N-CSRS 1 d714333dncsrs.htm MFS SERIES TRUST VIII MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-05262

MFS SERIES TRUST VIII

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Susan S. Newton

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

111 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(Name and address of agents for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 954-5000

Date of fiscal year end: October 31

Date of reporting period: April 30, 2014


Table of Contents
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

April 30, 2014

 

LOGO

 

MFS® GLOBAL GROWTH FUND

 

LOGO

 

WGF-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® GLOBAL GROWTH FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     4   
Portfolio of investments     6   
Statement of assets and liabilities     11   
Statement of operations     13   
Statements of changes in net assets     14   
Financial highlights     15   
Notes to financial statements     24   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     35   
Proxy voting policies and information     35   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     35   
Further information     35   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     35   
Contact information    back cover   

 

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

After gaining momentum late last year, the U.S. economy slipped this winter, as severe weather curtailed activity. More recently, however, labor market data, consumer

confidence, retail sales and industrial output have indicated that the U.S. economy could be regaining traction.

Europe emerged from its recession midway through 2013. However, its pace of growth has been slow, high unemployment persists and the risk of deflation exists. Asia remains vulnerable. China’s economic growth has slowed, and Japan’s early progress toward an economic turnaround continues to face obstacles. Emerging markets have also displayed much higher volatility, affected by the early transition from aggressive central bank monetary easing.

With so much uncertainty, global financial markets began 2014 with much greater volatility than last year’s broad-based rally. For equity investors, attention to company fundamentals has taken on more importance. Bond investors have been attuned to heightened risks from possible interest rate increases.

As always at MFS®, active risk management is an integral part of how we manage your investments. We use a collaborative process, sharing insights across asset classes, regions and economic sectors. Our global team of investment professionals uses a multidisciplined, long-term, diversified investment approach.

We understand that these are challenging economic times. We believe that we can serve you best by applying proven principles, such as asset allocation and diversification, over the long term. We are confident that this approach can serve you well as you work with your financial advisors to reach your goals in the years ahead.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management

June 13, 2014

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure

 

LOGO

 

Top ten holdings  
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.     2.6%   
Accenture PLC, “A”     2.4%   
Schlumberger Ltd.     2.3%   
Groupe Danone     2.3%   
Compass Group PLC     2.2%   
Pernod Ricard S.A.     2.2%   
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ADR     2.0%   
Nestle S.A.     2.0%   
Colgate-Palmolive Co.     1.9%   
Danaher Corp.     1.7%   
Equity sectors  
Consumer Staples     17.2%   
Retailing     11.5%   
Industrial Goods & Services     11.4%   
Technology     10.9%   
Financial Services     10.4%   
Health Care     9.7%   
Special Products & Services     8.2%   
Leisure     7.5%   
Basic Materials     5.3%   
Energy     4.3%   
Autos & Housing     1.2%   
Transportation     1.1%   
Issuer country weightings (x)  
United States     52.2%   
United Kingdom     12.7%   
France     9.6%   
Switzerland     6.0%   
Germany     3.9%   
Brazil     3.4%   
Taiwan     2.1%   
Denmark     1.6%   
Canada     1.3%   
Other Countries     7.2%   
Currency exposure weightings (y)   
United States Dollar     53.3%   
Euro     15.7%   
British Pound Sterling     12.7%   
Swiss Franc     6.0%   
Brazilian Real     3.4%   
Taiwan Dollar     2.1%   
Danish Krone     1.6%   
Canadian Dollar     1.3%   
South Korean Won     1.2%   
Other Currencies     2.7%   
 

 

2


Table of Contents

Portfolio Composition – continued

 

 

(x) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to issuer countries as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets. For purposes of this presentation, United States includes Cash & Other.
(y) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to a particular currency as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets. For purposes of this presentation, United States Dollar includes Cash & Other.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 4/30/14.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

3


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period, November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

4


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

 

Share
Class
      

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

   

Beginning

Account Value

11/01/13

   

Ending

Account Value

4/30/14

   

Expenses

Paid During

Period (p)

11/01/13-4/30/14

 
A   Actual     1.45%        $1,000.00        $1,047.54        $7.36   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.45%        $1,000.00        $1,017.60        $7.25   
B   Actual     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,043.73        $11.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,013.88        $10.99   
C   Actual     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,043.51        $11.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,013.88        $10.99   
I   Actual     1.20%        $1,000.00        $1,048.70        $6.10   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.20%        $1,000.00        $1,018.84        $6.01   
R1   Actual     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,043.58        $11.15   
  Hypothetical (h)     2.20%        $1,000.00        $1,013.88        $10.99   
R2   Actual     1.70%        $1,000.00        $1,046.28        $8.63   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.70%        $1,000.00        $1,016.36        $8.50   
R3   Actual     1.45%        $1,000.00        $1,047.46        $7.36   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.45%        $1,000.00        $1,017.60        $7.25   
R4   Actual     1.20%        $1,000.00        $1,048.86        $6.10   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.20%        $1,000.00        $1,018.84        $6.01   
R5   Actual     1.14%        $1,000.00        $1,048.95        $5.79   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.14%        $1,000.00        $1,019.14        $5.71   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) “Expenses Paid During Period” are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Notes to Expense Table

Each class with a Rule 12b-1 service fee is subject to a rebate of a portion of such fee. Such rebates are included in the expense ratios above. For Class A shares, this rebate reduced the expense ratio above by 0.01%. See Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for additional information.

 

5


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

4/30/14 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Common Stocks - 98.7%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Aerospace - 3.3%                 
Precision Castparts Corp.      5,524      $ 1,398,065   
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC      142,570        2,527,509   
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC, IPS      19,104,380        32,256   
United Technologies Corp.      32,600        3,857,558   
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,815,388   
Alcoholic Beverages - 4.7%                 
Carlsberg Group      19,182      $ 1,916,417   
Diageo PLC      90,538        2,778,310   
Heineken N.V. (l)      17,154        1,189,930   
Pernod Ricard S.A.      41,936        5,033,144   
    

 

 

 
             $ 10,917,801   
Apparel Manufacturers - 6.4%                 
Burberry Group PLC      60,744      $ 1,523,019   
Cia. Hering S.A.      33,600        355,025   
Compagnie Financiere Richemont S.A.      14,836        1,505,346   
Li & Fung Ltd.      1,466,400        2,137,432   
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.      31,439        6,182,695   
NIKE, Inc., “B”      19,370        1,413,042   
VF Corp.      28,969        1,769,716   
    

 

 

 
             $ 14,886,275   
Automotive - 0.5%                 
Johnson Controls, Inc.      26,690      $ 1,204,787   
Broadcasting - 5.5%                 
Discovery Communications, Inc., “A” (a)      20,760      $ 1,575,684   
Publicis Groupe      16,865        1,436,616   
Time Warner, Inc.      52,590        3,495,131   
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.      48,750        1,560,975   
Viacom, Inc., “B”      14,200        1,206,716   
Walt Disney Co.      44,060        3,495,720   
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,770,842   
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 3.0%                 
BM&F Bovespa S.A.      574,800      $ 2,938,769   
CME Group, Inc.      15,160        1,067,112   
Franklin Resources, Inc.      59,656        3,122,992   
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,128,873   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Common Stocks - continued                 
Business Services - 8.2%                 
Accenture PLC, “A”      70,890      $ 5,686,796   
Brenntag AG      11,963        2,163,402   
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., “A” (a)      37,460        1,794,521   
Compass Group PLC      323,630        5,147,247   
Experian Group Ltd.      123,397        2,366,782   
Intertek Group PLC      42,349        2,077,850   
    

 

 

 
             $ 19,236,598   
Chemicals - 0.9%                 
Monsanto Co.      18,652      $ 2,064,776   
Computer Software - 2.1%                 
Dassault Systemes S.A.      14,767      $ 1,815,763   
Oracle Corp.      77,020        3,148,578   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,964,341   
Computer Software - Systems - 2.4%                 
Apple, Inc.      1,830      $ 1,079,865   
EMC Corp.      116,860        3,014,988   
International Business Machines Corp.      7,724        1,517,534   
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,612,387   
Construction - 0.7%                 
Sherwin-Williams Co.      7,843      $ 1,567,345   
Consumer Products - 4.7%                 
Colgate-Palmolive Co.      65,089      $ 4,380,490   
Procter & Gamble Co.      38,440        3,173,222   
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC      43,114        3,475,898   
    

 

 

 
             $ 11,029,610   
Electrical Equipment - 7.1%                 
Amphenol Corp., “A”      15,300      $ 1,458,855   
Danaher Corp.      52,880        3,880,334   
Legrand S.A.      20,494        1,322,104   
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a)      10,275        2,395,308   
Schneider Electric S.A.      13,549        1,269,751   
Sensata Technologies Holding B.V. (a)      83,580        3,549,643   
W.W. Grainger, Inc.      10,548        2,683,411   
    

 

 

 
             $ 16,559,406   
Electronics - 3.6%                 
Microchip Technology, Inc.      47,200      $ 2,243,888   
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.      1,140        1,485,839   

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Common Stocks - continued                 
Electronics - continued                 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ADR      237,228      $ 4,768,283   
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,498,010   
Energy - Independent - 1.0%                 
Occidental Petroleum Corp.      23,990      $ 2,297,043   
Energy - Integrated - 0.6%                 
BG Group PLC      67,217      $ 1,359,600   
Food & Beverages - 7.8%                 
Chr. Hansen Holding A.S.      41,719      $ 1,880,457   
Groupe Danone (l)      71,285        5,257,377   
M. Dias Branco S.A. Industria e Comercio de Alimentos      39,200        1,694,403   
Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., “A”      39,760        3,509,218   
Nestle S.A.      60,617        4,680,065   
PepsiCo, Inc.      14,480        1,243,687   
    

 

 

 
             $ 18,265,207   
Food & Drug Stores - 2.3%                 
CVS Caremark Corp.      47,170      $ 3,430,202   
Jeronimo Martins SGPS S.A.      60,301        1,054,517   
Sundrug Co. Ltd.      24,100        985,357   
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,470,076   
General Merchandise - 1.9%                 
Dollarama, Inc.      37,130      $ 3,088,154   
Lojas Renner S.A.      43,100        1,268,017   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,356,171   
Internet - 2.8%                 
Google, Inc., “A” (a)      4,821      $ 2,578,656   
Google, Inc., “C” (a)      4,821        2,539,028   
Naver Corp.      1,909        1,374,646   
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,492,330   
Machinery & Tools - 1.0%                 
Schindler Holding AG      14,476      $ 2,240,235   
Major Banks - 1.0%                 
Standard Chartered PLC      105,470      $ 2,282,038   
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 1.2%                 
Express Scripts Holding Co. (a)      42,220      $ 2,811,008   

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Common Stocks - continued                 
Medical Equipment - 4.2%                 
Abbott Laboratories      48,980      $ 1,897,485   
DENTSPLY International, Inc.      46,120        2,058,336   
Sonova Holding AG      13,831        1,995,838   
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.      22,870        2,607,180   
Waters Corp. (a)      12,300        1,212,042   
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,770,881   
Metals & Mining - 1.1%                 
Rio Tinto PLC      49,420      $ 2,690,546   
Oil Services - 2.7%                 
Saipem S.p.A.      34,590      $ 926,177   
Schlumberger Ltd.      53,290        5,411,600   
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,337,777   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 6.4%                 
Credicorp Ltd.      17,130      $ 2,556,653   
HDFC Bank Ltd.      185,891        2,228,684   
Itau Unibanco Holding S.A., ADR      104,052        1,702,291   
Julius Baer Group Ltd.      54,013        2,525,435   
MasterCard, Inc., “A”      20,071        1,476,222   
Sberbank of Russia, ADR (a)      106,712        894,460   
Visa, Inc., “A”      17,190        3,482,866   
    

 

 

 
             $ 14,866,611   
Pharmaceuticals - 4.3%                 
Allergan, Inc.      8,267      $ 1,370,999   
Bayer AG (l)      21,506        2,983,635   
Johnson & Johnson      23,010        2,330,683   
Zoetis, Inc.      110,380        3,340,099   
    

 

 

 
             $ 10,025,416   
Printing & Publishing - 0.1%                 
Equifax, Inc.      3,490      $ 247,127   
Railroad & Shipping - 0.5%                 
Kuehne & Nagel International AG      8,060      $ 1,100,798   
Restaurants - 1.9%                 
McDonald’s Corp.      24,922      $ 2,526,592   
Whitbread PLC      28,567        1,967,887   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,494,479   

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Common Stocks - continued                 
Specialty Chemicals - 3.3%                 
Croda International PLC      32,688      $ 1,421,705   
Linde AG      13,383        2,774,824   
Praxair, Inc.      17,429        2,275,356   
Symrise AG      23,364        1,179,061   
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,650,946   
Specialty Stores - 0.9%                 
Industria de Diseno Textil S.A.      13,547      $ 2,032,618   
Trucking - 0.6%                 
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.      35,000      $ 1,443,400   
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost, $174,337,091)            $ 230,490,746   
Money Market Funds - 0.7%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.09%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     1,645,366      $ 1,645,366   
Collateral for Securities Loaned - 3.0%                 
JPMorgan Prime Money Market Fund, 0.06%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (j)
     7,107,147      $ 7,107,147   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $183,089,604)            $ 239,243,259   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - (2.4)%              (5,708,997
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 233,534,262   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(j) The rate quoted is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(l) A portion of this security is on loan.
(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

ADR   American Depositary Receipt
PLC   Public Limited Company

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 4/30/14 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $181,444,238)

     $237,597,893   

Underlying affiliated funds, at cost and value

     1,645,366   

Total investments, at value, including $6,807,955 of securities on loan (identified cost, $183,089,604)

     $239,243,259   

Cash

     60,764   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     1,268,284   

Fund shares sold

     145,115   

Interest and dividends

     469,449   

Other assets

     1,162   

Total assets

     $241,188,033   
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Investments purchased

     $241,697   

Fund shares reacquired

     83,465   

Collateral for securities loaned, at value

     7,107,147   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     10,706   

Shareholder servicing costs

     165,327   

Distribution and service fees

     3,951   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     8,034   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     33,444   

Total liabilities

     $7,653,771   

Net assets

     $233,534,262   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $173,144,669   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     56,158,115   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     4,147,537   

Undistributed net investment income

     83,941   

Net assets

     $233,534,262   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     6,876,163   

 

11


Table of Contents

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) – continued

 

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $190,359,460         5,551,620         $34.29   

Class B

     7,729,257         248,066         31.16   

Class C

     13,759,645         446,178         30.84   

Class I

     12,513,486         357,719         34.98   

Class R1

     656,747         21,333         30.79   

Class R2

     3,369,782         100,752         33.45   

Class R3

     4,107,507         120,311         34.14   

Class R4

     920,467         26,814         34.33   

Class R5

     117,911         3,370         34.99   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $36.38 [100 / 94.25 x $34.29]. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering price of Class A shares is reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Classes I, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 4/30/14 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income   

Income

  

Dividends

     $1,900,612   

Interest

     13,484   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     609   

Foreign taxes withheld

     (88,845

Total investment income

     $1,825,860   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $1,021,935   

Distribution and service fees

     355,607   

Shareholder servicing costs

     172,391   

Administrative services fee

     18,888   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     5,837   

Custodian fee

     35,360   

Shareholder communications

     11,604   

Audit and tax fees

     36,820   

Legal fees

     1,047   

Miscellaneous

     65,950   

Total expenses

     $1,725,439   

Fees paid indirectly

     (2

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (10,993

Net expenses

     $1,714,444   

Net investment income

     $111,416   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments

     $4,288,492   

Foreign currency

     (5,956

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $4,282,536   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $6,176,347   

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     2,219   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $6,178,566   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $10,461,102   

Change in net assets from operations

     $10,572,518   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

13


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

     Six months ended
4/30/14
     Year ended
10/31/13
 
Change in net assets    (unaudited)         
From operations                  

Net investment income

     $111,416         $542,778   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     4,282,536         10,891,700   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     6,178,566         33,159,662   

Change in net assets from operations

     $10,572,518         $44,594,140   
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(562,037      $(460,035

From net realized gain on investments

     (7,102,037        

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(7,664,074      $(460,035

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $1,984,787         $(9,426,579

Total change in net assets

     $4,893,231         $34,707,526   
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     228,641,031         193,933,505   

At end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $83,941 and $534,562, respectively)

     $233,534,262         $228,641,031   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

14


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years (or life of a particular share class, if shorter). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class A     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $33.89        $27.45        $25.50        $24.88        $21.93        $17.35   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.03        $0.10        $0.09        $0.11        $0.08        $0.11   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.51        6.41        1.93        0.57        2.96        4.47   

Total from investment operations

    $1.54        $6.51        $2.02        $0.68        $3.04        $4.58   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.09     $(0.07     $(0.07     $(0.06     $(0.09     $(0.00 )(w) 

From net realized gain on
investments

    (1.05                                   

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(1.14     $(0.07     $(0.07     $(0.06     $(0.09     $(0.00 )(w) 

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $34.29        $33.89        $27.45        $25.50        $24.88        $21.93   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    4.75 (n)      23.77        7.98        2.73        13.92        26.40   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.46 (a)      1.49        1.53        1.53        1.55        1.70   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.45 (a)      1.49        1.53        1.53        1.55        1.67   

Net investment income

    0.16 (a)(l)      0.33        0.33        0.42        0.34        0.59   

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $190,359        $186,818        $159,905        $164,474        $183,544        $180,278   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

15


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class B       2013        2012        2011        2010        2009   
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $30.92        $25.18        $23.49        $23.03        $20.37        $16.24   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.09     $(0.12     $(0.10     $(0.08     $(0.09     $(0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.38        5.86        1.79        0.54        2.75        4.16   

Total from investment operations

    $1.29        $5.74        $1.69        $0.46        $2.66        $4.13   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $(1.05     $—        $—        $—        $—        $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $31.16        $30.92        $25.18        $23.49        $23.03        $20.37   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    4.37 (n)      22.80        7.19        2.00        13.06        25.43   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.21 (a)      2.24        2.28        2.28        2.30        2.43   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.24        2.28        2.28        2.30        2.43   

Net investment loss

    (0.60 )(a)(l)      (0.42     (0.43     (0.35     (0.43     (0.19

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $7,729        $8,165        $7,966        $9,854        $13,563        $17,219   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

16


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class C     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $30.62        $24.93        $23.25        $22.81        $20.17        $16.08   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.09     $(0.12     $(0.10     $(0.07     $(0.09     $(0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.36        5.81        1.78        0.51        2.73        4.12   

Total from investment operations

    $1.27        $5.69        $1.68        $0.44        $2.64        $4.09   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $(1.05     $—        $—        $—        $—        $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $30.84        $30.62        $24.93        $23.25        $22.81        $20.17   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    4.35 (n)      22.82        7.23        1.93        13.09        25.44   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.21 (a)      2.24        2.28        2.28        2.30        2.42   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.24        2.28        2.28        2.30        2.41   

Net investment loss

    (0.59 )(a)(l)      (0.43     (0.42     (0.31     (0.41     (0.19

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $13,760        $13,433        $11,304        $11,327        $14,485        $13,598   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

17


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class I     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $34.59        $28.02        $26.03        $25.39        $22.37        $17.73   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.07        $0.18        $0.16        $0.18        $0.14        $0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.54        6.53        1.97        0.58        3.02        4.55   

Total from investment operations

    $1.61        $6.71        $2.13        $0.76        $3.16        $4.71   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.17     $(0.14     $(0.14     $(0.12     $(0.14     $(0.07

From net realized gain on
investments

    (1.05                                   

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(1.22     $(0.14     $(0.14     $(0.12     $(0.14     $(0.07

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $34.98        $34.59        $28.02        $26.03        $25.39        $22.37   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.87 (n)      24.05        8.29        2.99        14.18        26.68   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.21 (a)      1.24        1.28        1.28        1.30        1.42   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.20 (a)      1.24        1.28        1.28        1.30        1.41   

Net investment income

    0.42 (a)(l)      0.56        0.58        0.67        0.60        0.84   

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $12,513        $11,511        $7,513        $6,731        $6,788        $5,875   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

18


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class R1     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $30.57        $24.88        $23.22        $22.77        $20.14        $16.05   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment loss (d)

    $(0.09     $(0.12     $(0.09     $(0.08     $(0.08     $(0.02

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.36        5.81        1.75        0.53        2.71        4.11   

Total from investment operations

    $1.27        $5.69        $1.66        $0.45        $2.63        $4.09   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net realized gain on
investments

    $(1.05     $—        $—        $—        $—        $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $30.79        $30.57        $24.88        $23.22        $22.77        $20.14   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.36 (n)      22.87        7.15        1.98        13.06        25.48   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    2.21 (a)      2.24        2.28        2.28        2.30        2.41   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    2.20 (a)      2.24        2.28        2.28        2.30        2.41   

Net investment loss

    (0.62 )(a)(l)      (0.42     (0.39     (0.33     (0.38     (0.11

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $657        $867        $763        $775        $791        $886   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class R2     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $33.04        $26.76        $24.84        $24.25        $21.37        $16.95   
Income (loss) from investment operations                                   

Net investment income (loss) (d)

    $(0.02     $0.03        $0.02        $0.04        $0.02        $0.06   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.48        6.25        1.90        0.55        2.90        4.36   

Total from investment operations

    $1.46        $6.28        $1.92        $0.59        $2.92        $4.42   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                                   

From net investment income

    $(0.00 )(w)      $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.04     $—   

From net realized gain on
investments

    (1.05                                   

Total distributions declared to shareholders

    $(1.05     $—        $—        $(0.00 )(w)      $(0.04     $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $33.45        $33.04        $26.76        $24.84        $24.25        $21.37   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.63 (n)      23.47        7.73        2.45        13.66        26.08   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.71 (a)      1.74        1.78        1.78        1.80        1.93   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.70 (a)      1.74        1.78        1.78        1.80        1.93   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.11 )(a)(l)      0.08        0.09        0.14        0.10        0.36   

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $3,370        $3,372        $3,250        $4,586        $5,250        $5,128   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class R3     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $33.75        $27.35        $25.41        $24.80        $21.86        $17.29   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.03        $0.10        $0.09        $0.11        $0.08        $0.11   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.50        6.38        1.93        0.56        2.96        4.46   

Total from investment operations

    $1.53        $6.48        $2.02        $0.67        $3.04        $4.57   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.09     $(0.08     $(0.08     $(0.06     $(0.10     $—   

From net realized gain on
investments

    (1.05                                   

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(1.14     $(0.08     $(0.08     $(0.06     $(0.10     $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $34.14        $33.75        $27.35        $25.41        $24.80        $21.86   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.75 (n)      23.74        8.00        2.72        13.93        26.43   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.46 (a)      1.49        1.53        1.53        1.55        1.67   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.45 (a)      1.49        1.53        1.53        1.55        1.67   

Net investment income

    0.16 (a)(l)      0.32        0.32        0.42        0.34        0.60   

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $4,108        $3,419        $2,942        $2,693        $2,528        $2,168   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class R4     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $33.97        $27.52        $25.57        $24.95        $21.98        $17.41   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.07        $0.12        $0.14        $0.17        $0.14        $0.19   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    1.51        6.47        1.95        0.57        2.97        4.44   

Total from investment operations

    $1.58        $6.59        $2.09        $0.74        $3.11        $4.63   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.17     $(0.14     $(0.14     $(0.12     $(0.14     $(0.06

From net realized gain on
investments

    (1.05                                   

Total distributions declared to
shareholders

    $(1.22     $(0.14     $(0.14     $(0.12     $(0.14     $(0.06

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $34.33        $33.97        $27.52        $25.57        $24.95        $21.98   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    4.89 (n)      24.05        8.28        2.96        14.21        26.73   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                           

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.21 (a)      1.25        1.28        1.28        1.30        1.38   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.20 (a)      1.25        1.28        1.28        1.30        1.38   

Net investment income

    0.44 (a)(l)      0.39        0.51        0.67        0.60        1.03   

Portfolio turnover

    13 (n)      31        37        39        63        83   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $920        $942        $292        $175        $171        $146   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

Class R5    Six months
ended
4/30/14
(unaudited)
    Period ended
10/31/13 (i)
 
          

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $34.61        $30.79   
Income (loss) from investment operations                 

Net investment income (d)

     $0.08        $0.15   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and
foreign currency

     1.54        3.67 (g) 

Total from investment operations

     $1.62        $3.82   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                 

From net investment income

     $(0.19     $—   

From net realized gain on investments

     (1.05       

Total distributions declared to shareholders

     $(1.24     $—   

Net asset value, end of period (x)

     $34.99        $34.61   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

     4.89 (n)      12.41 (n) 
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                

Expenses before expense reductions (f)

     1.14 (a)      1.15 (a) 

Expenses after expense reductions (f)

     1.14 (a)      1.15 (a) 

Net investment income

     0.47 (a)(l)      0.68 (a) 

Portfolio turnover

     13 (n)      33 (n) 

Net assets at end of period (000 omitted)

     $118        $112   

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(g) The per share amount is not in accordance with the net realized and unrealized gain/loss for the period because of the timing of sales of fund shares and the per share amount of realized and unrealized gains and losses at such time.
(i) For the period from the class inception, March 1, 2013, through the stated period end.
(l) Recognition of net investment income by the fund may be affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by companies in which the fund invests and the actual annual net investment income ratio may differ.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(w) Per share amount was less than $0.01.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Global Growth Fund (the fund) is a diversified series of MFS Series Trust VIII (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

The fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities are vulnerable to the effects of changes in the relative values of the local currency and the U.S. dollar and to the effects of changes in each country’s legal, political, and economic environment.

In this reporting period, the fund adopted the disclosure provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities along with the related scope clarification provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. ASU 2011-11 is intended to enhance disclosures on the offsetting of financial assets and liabilities by requiring entities to disclose both gross and net information about financial instruments and transactions that are either offset in the statement of financial position or subject to an enforceable Master Netting Agreement or similar arrangement. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. The disclosures required by ASU 2011-11, to the extent applicable to the fund, have been included in the fund’s Significant Accounting Policies note under the captions for each of the fund’s in-scope financial instruments and transactions.

The fund’s accounting policy with respect to balance sheet offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty. The fund’s right to setoff may be restricted or prohibited by the bankruptcy or insolvency laws of the particular

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

jurisdiction to which a specific master netting agreement counterparty is subject. Balance sheet offsetting disclosures, to the extent applicable to the fund, have been included in the fund’s Significant Accounting Policies note under the captions for each of the fund’s in-scope financial instruments and transactions.

Investment Valuations – Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. Events that occur on a frequent basis after foreign markets close (such as developments in foreign markets and significant movements in the U.S. markets) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value may be deemed to have a material effect on the value of securities traded in foreign markets. Accordingly, the fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. The following is a summary of the levels used as of April 30, 2014 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities:            

United States

     $118,895,881         $—         $—         $118,895,881   

United Kingdom

     29,618,391         32,256                 29,650,647   

France

     22,317,450                         22,317,450   

Switzerland

     14,047,717                         14,047,717   

Germany

     9,100,922                         9,100,922   

Brazil

     7,958,505                         7,958,505   

Taiwan

     4,768,283                         4,768,283   

Denmark

     3,796,874                         3,796,874   

Canada

     3,088,154                         3,088,154   

Other Countries

     9,639,712         7,226,601                 16,866,313   
Mutual Funds      8,752,513                         8,752,513   
Total Investments      $231,984,402         $7,258,857         $—         $239,243,259   

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

Of the level 2 investments presented above, equity investments amounting to $7,226,601 would have been considered level 1 investments at the beginning of the period. The primary reason for changes in the classifications between levels 1 and 2 occurs when foreign equity securities are fair valued using other observable market-based inputs in place of the closing exchange price due to events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded. The fund’s foreign equity securities may often be valued at fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

Security Loans – Under its Securities Lending Agency Agreement with the fund, JPMorgan Chase and Co. (“Chase”), as lending agent, loans the securities of the fund to certain qualified institutions (the “Borrowers”) approved by the fund. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations in an amount typically at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the fund on the next business day. Chase provides the fund with indemnification against Borrower default. In the event of Borrower default, Chase will for the benefit of the fund either purchase securities identical to those loaned or, when such purchase is commercially impracticable, pay the fund the market value of the loaned securities. In return, Chase assumes the fund’s rights to the related collateral. If the collateral value is less than the cost to purchase identical securities, Chase is responsible for the shortfall, but only to the extent that such shortfall is not due to a decline in collateral value resulting from collateral reinvestment for which the fund bears the risk of loss. On loans collateralized by cash, the cash collateral is invested in a money market fund or short-term securities. At period end, the fund had investment securities on loan with a fair value of $6,807,955 and a related liability of $7,107,147 for collateral received on securities loaned, both of which are presented gross on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The liability for collateral for securities loaned is carried at fair value, which is categorized as level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The collateral received on securities loaned exceeded the value of securities on loan at period end. A portion of the income generated upon investment of the collateral is remitted to the Borrowers, and the remainder is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and/or federal agency obligations, a fee is received from the Borrower, and is allocated between the fund and the lending agent. Income from securities lending is included in “Interest” income, in the Statement of Operations. The dividend and interest income earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends received in cash

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended April 30, 2014, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Management has analyzed the fund’s tax positions taken on federal and state tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability. Foreign taxes, if any, have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with the applicable foreign tax law. Foreign income taxes may be withheld by certain countries in which the fund invests. Additionally, capital gains realized by the fund on securities issued in or by certain foreign countries may be subject to capital gains tax imposed by those countries.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to wash sale loss deferrals and treating a portion of the proceeds from redemptions as a distribution for tax purposes.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The tax character of distributions made during the current period will be determined at fiscal year end. The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last fiscal year is as follows:

 

     10/31/13  
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $460,035   

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 4/30/14       
Cost of investments      $183,224,215   
Gross appreciation      59,196,282   
Gross depreciation      (3,177,238
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $56,019,044   
As of 10/31/13       
Undistributed ordinary income      561,638   
Undistributed long-term capital gain      7,101,649   
Other temporary differences      (24,835
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      49,842,697   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution and service fees. The fund’s income, realized and unrealized gain (loss), and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B shares will convert to Class A shares, approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
     From net realized gain  on
investments
 
     Six months
ended

4/30/14
     Year
ended
10/31/13
     Six months
ended

4/30/14
     Year
ended
10/31/13
 
Class A      $492,259         $410,782         $5,737,527         $—   
Class B                      277,896           
Class C                      468,777           
Class I      55,502         39,439         347,503           
Class R1                      26,494           
Class R2      467                 108,477           
Class R3      9,435         8,165         109,007           
Class R4      3,770         1,649         22,941           
Class R5      604                 3,415           
Total      $562,037         $460,035         $7,102,037         $—   

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates:

 

First $1 billion of average daily net assets      0.90
Next $1 billion of average daily net assets      0.75
Average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion      0.65

MFS has agreed in writing to reduce its management fee by a specified amount if certain MFS mutual fund assets exceed thresholds agreed to by MFS and the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, this management fee reduction amounted to $3,347 which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The management fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2014 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.90% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $19,460 for the six months ended April 30, 2014, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain share classes pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

    

Distribution

Fee Rate (d)

    

Service

Fee Rate (d)

    

Total

Distribution

Plan (d)

    

Annual

Effective

Rate (e)

    

Distribution

and Service

Fee

 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.24%         $231,452   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         39,844   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         67,501   
Class R1      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         3,637   
Class R2      0.25%         0.25%         0.50%         0.50%         8,354   
Class R3              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         4,819   
Total Distribution and Service Fees         $355,607   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period. Any rate changes, if applicable, are detailed below.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended April 30, 2014 based on each class’s average daily net assets. MFD has voluntarily agreed to rebate a portion of each class’s 0.25% service fee attributable to accounts for which MFD retains the 0.25% service fee except for accounts attributable to MFS or its affiliates’ seed money. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, this rebate amounted to $7,094, $119, $223, and $45 for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R3, respectively, and is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

 

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Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended April 30, 2014, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $114   
Class B      4,068   
Class C      529   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, the fee was $56,361, which equated to 0.0496% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. Class R5 shares do not incur sub-accounting fees. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $116,030.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2014 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0166% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. Effective January 1, 2002, accrued benefits under the DB plan for then-current independent Trustees who continued were credited to an unfunded retirement deferral plan (the “Retirement Deferral plan”), which was established for and exists solely with respect to these

 

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credited amounts, and is not available for other deferrals by these or other independent Trustees. Although the Retirement Deferral plan is unfunded, amounts deferred under the plan are periodically adjusted for investment experience as if they had been invested in shares of the fund. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $176 and the Retirement Deferral plan resulted in an expense of $1,216. Both amounts are included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended April 30, 2014. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under both plans amounted to $6,878 at April 30, 2014, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $730 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund in the amount of $165, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

At April 30, 2014, MFS held 100% of the outstanding shares of Class R5.

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $29,415,206 and $36,061,299, respectively.

 

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(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
4/30/14
     Year ended
10/31/13 (i)
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     203,821         $6,820,414         437,447         $13,501,702   

Class B

     19,633         601,282         30,888         862,407   

Class C

     33,692         1,016,394         53,381         1,495,626   

Class I

     32,024         1,095,024         92,808         2,894,986   

Class R1

     943         28,453         9,672         259,839   

Class R2

     9,982         327,874         10,462         310,656   

Class R3

     24,267         792,782         16,228         501,787   

Class R4

     6,070         205,888         18,015         583,883   

Class R5

                     3,248         100,001   
     330,432         $10,888,111         672,149         $20,510,887   
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
           

Class A

     178,622         $5,774,870         13,195         $376,720   

Class B

     9,139         269,222                   

Class C

     12,727         371,104                   

Class I

     10,934         360,292         1,213         35,254   

Class R1

     910         26,494                   

Class R2

     3,451         108,944                   

Class R3

     3,679         118,442         287         8,165   

Class R4

     826         26,710         57         1,649   

Class R5

     122         4,019                   
     220,410         $7,060,097         14,752         $421,788   
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (342,823      $(11,498,017      (763,418      $(23,241,161

Class B

     (44,737      (1,371,265      (83,260      (2,338,583

Class C

     (38,954      (1,165,989      (68,159      (1,892,731

Class I

     (18,009      (614,037      (29,400      (918,370

Class R1

     (8,889      (270,685      (11,970      (337,847

Class R2

     (14,734      (483,680      (29,842      (899,240

Class R3

     (8,933      (294,182      (22,800      (701,804

Class R4

     (7,814      (265,566      (937      (29,518
     (484,893      $(15,963,421      (1,009,786      $(30,359,254

 

33


Table of Contents

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

     Six months ended
4/30/14
     Year ended
10/31/13 (i)
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Net change            

Class A

     39,620         $1,097,267         (312,776      $(9,362,739

Class B

     (15,965      (500,761      (52,372      (1,476,176

Class C

     7,465         221,509         (14,778      (397,105

Class I

     24,949         841,279         64,621         2,011,870   

Class R1

     (7,036      (215,738      (2,298      (78,008

Class R2

     (1,301      (46,862      (19,380      (588,584

Class R3

     19,013         617,042         (6,285      (191,852

Class R4

     (918      (32,968      17,135         556,014   

Class R5

     122         4,019         3,248         100,001   
     65,949         $1,984,787         (322,885      $(9,426,579

 

(i) For Class R5, the period is from inception, March 1, 2013, through the stated period end.

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an agreed upon spread. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $481 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be an affiliated issuer:

 

Underlying Affiliated Fund   

Beginning

Shares/Par

Amount

    

Acquisitions

Shares/Par

Amount

    

Dispositions

Shares/Par

Amount

    

Ending

Shares/Par

Amount

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     2,047,635         14,990,423         (15,392,692      1,645,366   
Underlying Affiliated Fund   

Realized

Gain (Loss)

    

Capital Gain

Distributions

    

Dividend

Income

    

Ending

Value

 
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
     $—         $—         $609         $1,645,366   

 

34


Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

MFS votes proxies on behalf of the fund pursuant to proxy voting policies and procedures that are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2013 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “Commentary & Announcements” and “Market Outlooks” sections of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

35


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


Table of Contents

SEMIANNUAL REPORT

April 30, 2014

 

LOGO

 

MFS® STRATEGIC INCOME FUND

 

LOGO

 

MFO-SEM

 


Table of Contents

MFS® STRATEGIC INCOME FUND

 

CONTENTS

 

Letter from the Chairman and CEO     1   
Portfolio composition     2   
Expense table     4   
Portfolio of investments     6   
Statement of assets and liabilities     19   
Statement of operations     20   
Statements of changes in net assets     21   
Financial highlights     22   
Notes to financial statements     26   
Board review of investment advisory agreement     43   
Proxy voting policies and information     43   
Quarterly portfolio disclosure     43   
Further information     43   
Provision of financial reports and summary prospectuses     43   
Contact information    back cover   

 

 

The report is prepared for the general information of shareholders. It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only when preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED Ÿ MAY LOSE VALUE Ÿ NO BANK GUARANTEE


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

 

Dear Shareholders:

After gaining momentum late last year, the U.S. economy slipped this winter, as severe weather curtailed activity. More recently, however, labor market data, consumer

confidence, retail sales and industrial output have indicated that the U.S. economy could be regaining traction.

Europe emerged from its recession midway through 2013. However, its pace of growth has been slow, high unemployment persists and the risk of deflation exists. Asia remains vulnerable. China’s economic growth has slowed, and Japan’s early progress toward an economic turnaround continues to face obstacles. Emerging markets have also displayed much higher volatility, affected by the early transition from aggressive central bank monetary easing.

With so much uncertainty, global financial markets began 2014 with much greater volatility than last year’s broad-based rally. For equity investors, attention to company fundamentals has taken on more importance. Bond investors have been attuned to heightened risks from possible interest rate increases.

As always at MFS®, active risk management is an integral part of how we manage your investments. We use a collaborative process, sharing insights across asset classes, regions and economic sectors. Our global team of investment professionals uses a multidisciplined, long-term, diversified investment approach.

We understand that these are challenging economic times. We believe that we can serve you best by applying proven principles, such as asset allocation and diversification, over the long term. We are confident that this approach can serve you well as you work with your financial advisors to reach your goals in the years ahead.

Respectfully,

 

LOGO

Robert J. Manning

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MFS Investment Management

June 13, 2014

The opinions expressed in this letter are subject to change, may not be relied upon for investment advice, and no forecasts can be guaranteed.

 

1


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

Portfolio structure (i)

LOGO

 

Fixed income sectors (i)  
High Grade Corporates     45.1%   
High Yield Corporates     32.8%   
Non-U.S. Government Bonds     10.4%   
Emerging Markets Bonds     6.6%   
Floating Rate Loans     0.8%   
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities     0.7%   
Mortgage-Backed Securities     0.7%   
Asset-Backed Securities     0.4%   
Municipal Bonds     0.3%   
Collateralized Debt Obligations     0.2%   
U.S. Government Agencies     0.1%   
U.S. Treasury Securities     (8.7)%   
Composition including fixed income credit quality (a)(i)    
AAA     2.6%   
AA     3.7%   
A     18.0%   
BBB     36.3%   
BB     15.1%   
B     16.3%   
CCC     4.7%   
CC (o)     0.0%   
C     0.1%   
Federal Agencies     0.8%   
Not Rated     (8.2)%   
Non-Fixed Income     0.3%   
Cash & Other     10.3%   
Issuer country weightings (i)(x)   
United States     65.1%   
United Kingdom     3.5%   
France     3.1%   
Italy     2.9%   
Canada     2.8%   
Netherlands     2.7%   
Japan     2.0%   
Australia     1.6%   
Germany     1.3%   
Other Countries     15.0%   
Portfolio facts (i)  
Average Duration (d)     4.5   
Average Effective Maturity (m)     7.2 yrs.   
 

 

2


Table of Contents

Portfolio Composition – continued

 

(a) For all securities other than those specifically described below, ratings are assigned to underlying securities utilizing ratings from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies and applying the following hierarchy: If all three agencies provide a rating, the middle rating (after dropping the highest and lowest ratings) is assigned; if two of the three agencies rate a security, the lower of the two is assigned. Ratings are shown in the S&P and Fitch scale (e.g., AAA). Securities rated BBB or higher are considered investment grade. All ratings are subject to change. Federal Agencies includes rated and unrated U.S. Agency fixed-income securities, U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations of U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities. Not Rated includes fixed income securities, including fixed income futures contracts, which have not been rated by any rating agency. Non-Fixed Income includes equity securities (including convertible bonds and equity derivatives) and commodities. The fund may not hold all of these instruments. The fund is not rated by these agencies.
(d) Duration is a measure of how much a bond’s price is likely to fluctuate with general changes in interest rates, e.g., if rates rise 1.00%, a bond with a 5-year duration is likely to lose about 5.00% of its value due to the interest rate move.
(i) For purposes of this presentation, the components include the market value of securities, and reflect the impact of the equivalent exposure of derivative positions, if any. These amounts may be negative from time to time. Equivalent exposure is a calculated amount that translates the derivative position into a reasonable approximation of the amount of the underlying asset that the portfolio would have to hold at a given point in time to have the same price sensitivity that results from the portfolio’s ownership of the derivative contract. When dealing with derivatives, equivalent exposure is a more representative measure of the potential impact of a position on portfolio performance than market value. The bond component will include any accrued interest amounts.
(m) In determining an instrument’s effective maturity for purposes of calculating the fund’s dollar-weighted average effective maturity, MFS uses the instrument’s stated maturity or, if applicable, an earlier date on which MFS believes it is probable that a maturity-shortening device (such as a put, pre-refunding or prepayment) will cause the instrument to be repaid. Such an earlier date can be substantially shorter than the instrument’s stated maturity.
(o) Less than 0.1%.
(x) Represents the portfolio’s exposure to issuer countries as a percentage of a portfolio’s net assets. For purposes of this presentation, United States includes Cash & Other.

Where the fund holds convertible bonds, these are treated as part of the equity portion of the portfolio.

The fund invests a portion of its assets in the MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio. Percentages reflect exposure to the underlying holdings of the MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio and not to the exposure from investing directly in the MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio itself.

Cash & Other includes cash, other assets less liabilities, offsets to derivative positions, and short-term securities.

Percentages are based on net assets as of 4/30/14.

The portfolio is actively managed and current holdings may be different.

 

3


Table of Contents

EXPENSE TABLE

Fund expenses borne by the shareholders during the period,

November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on certain purchase or redemption payments, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

In addition to the fees and expenses which the fund bears directly, the fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying MFS Pooled Portfolio in which the fund invests. MFS Pooled Portfolios are mutual funds advised by MFS that do not pay management fees to MFS but do incur investment and operating costs. If these transactional and indirect costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

4


Table of Contents

Expense Table – continued

 

 

Share
Class
      

Annualized
Expense

Ratio

    Beginning
Account Value
11/01/13
   

Ending

Account Value
4/30/14

   

Expenses

Paid During

Period (p)

11/01/13-4/30/14

 
A   Actual     1.05%        $1,000.00        $1,031.55        $5.29   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.05%        $1,000.00        $1,019.59        $5.26   
B   Actual     1.80%        $1,000.00        $1,027.77        $9.05   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.80%        $1,000.00        $1,015.87        $9.00   
C   Actual     1.80%        $1,000.00        $1,027.80        $9.05   
  Hypothetical (h)     1.80%        $1,000.00        $1,015.87        $9.00   
I   Actual     0.80%        $1,000.00        $1,032.82        $4.03   
  Hypothetical (h)     0.80%        $1,000.00        $1,020.83        $4.01   

 

(h) 5% class return per year before expenses.
(p) “Expenses Paid During Period” are equal to each class’s annualized expense ratio, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid do not include any applicable sales charges (loads). If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher. In addition to the fees and expenses which the fund bears directly, the fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the fund invests. If these indirect costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

5


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

4/30/14 (unaudited)

The Portfolio of Investments is a complete list of all securities owned by your fund. It is categorized by broad-based asset classes.

 

Bonds - 63.7%                 
Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Asset-Backed & Securitized - 1.2%                 
Bayview Financial Revolving Mortgage Loan Trust, FRN, 1.752%, 12/28/40 (z)    $ 405,329      $ 268,221   
Capital Trust Realty Ltd., CDO, 5.16%, 6/25/35 (n)      20,047        20,583   
Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust, “A4”, FRN, 6.053%, 9/15/39      638,126        697,860   
Crest Ltd., CDO, 7%, 1/28/40 (a)(p)      527,972        26,399   
Falcon Franchise Loan LLC, FRN, 11.062%, 1/05/23 (i)(z)      517,665        43,587   
Falcon Franchise Loan LLC, FRN, 14.914%, 1/05/25 (i)(z)      228,660        73,171   
First Union-Lehman Brothers Bank of America, FRN, 0.706%, 11/18/35 (i)      4,269,014        80,134   
HLSS Servicer Advance Receivables Trust, 2013-T1, “A2”, 1.495%, 1/16/46 (n)      970,000        969,224   
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2007-LD11, “AM”, FRN, 5.989%, 6/15/49      1,280,263        1,343,806   
KKR Financial CLO Ltd., “C”, FRN, 1.685%, 5/15/21 (n)      523,730        507,515   
Morgan Stanley Capital I, Inc., FRN, 1.412%, 4/28/39 (i)(z)      2,484,327        15,552   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,046,052   
Automotive - 0.7%                 
Daimler Finance North America LLC, 1.875%, 1/11/18 (n)    $ 1,257,000      $ 1,262,093   
Delphi Corp., 5%, 2/15/23      152,000        161,120   
TRW Automotive, Inc., 4.45%, 12/01/23 (n)      797,000        812,940   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,236,153   
Biotechnology - 0.3%                 
Life Technologies Corp., 6%, 3/01/20    $ 960,000      $ 1,113,834   
Broadcasting - 0.6%                 
CBS Corp., 5.75%, 4/15/20    $ 260,000      $ 299,250   
Globo Comunicacoes e Participacoes S.A., 6.25% to 7/20/15, 9.375% to 12/31/49 (n)      100,000        104,625   
Myriad International Holdings B.V., 6%, 7/18/20 (n)      524,000        572,470   
News America, Inc., 8.5%, 2/23/25      415,000        546,588   
SES Global Americas Holdings GP, 2.5%, 3/25/19 (n)      410,000        410,358   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,933,291   
Brokerage & Asset Managers - 0.9%                 
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 4.25%, 2/15/24    $ 742,000      $ 755,179   
Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. LLC, 4.75%, 2/15/23 (n)      940,000        1,009,870   

 

6


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Brokerage & Asset Managers - continued                 
TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., 5.6%, 12/01/19    $ 1,045,000      $ 1,213,649   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,978,698   
Building - 0.3%                 
CRH PLC, 8.125%, 7/15/18    $ 590,000      $ 725,027   
Owens Corning, Inc., 4.2%, 12/15/22      385,000        383,947   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,108,974   
Business Services - 0.2%                 
Tencent Holdings Ltd., 3.375%, 3/05/18 (n)    $ 290,000      $ 295,795   
Tencent Holdings Ltd., 3.375%, 5/02/19 (z)      200,000        201,044   
    

 

 

 
             $ 496,839   
Cable TV - 1.0%                 
Cox Communications, Inc., 3.25%, 12/15/22 (n)    $ 1,138,000      $ 1,103,142   
DIRECTV Holdings LLC, 5.875%, 10/01/19      370,000        425,481   
NBCUniversal Enterprise, Inc., 1.974%, 4/15/19 (n)      618,000        607,759   
Time Warner Cable, Inc., 8.25%, 4/01/19      920,000        1,165,165   
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,301,547   
Chemicals - 0.7%                 
Dow Chemical Co., 8.55%, 5/15/19    $ 1,410,000      $ 1,807,545   
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A., 5.5%, 4/21/20 (n)      347,000        375,684   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,183,229   
Computer Software - 0.2%                 
Oracle Corp., 5.375%, 7/15/40    $ 607,000      $ 698,378   
Computer Software - Systems - 0.1%                 
Seagate HDD Cayman, 3.75%, 11/15/18 (n)    $ 416,000      $ 430,560   
Conglomerates - 0.1%                 
Metalloinvest Finance Ltd., 5.625%, 4/17/20 (n)    $ 207,000      $ 184,748   
Consumer Products - 0.4%                 
Mattel, Inc., 5.45%, 11/01/41    $ 436,000      $ 464,843   
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc., 4.7%, 8/15/20      796,000        850,274   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,315,117   
Consumer Services - 0.1%                 
Experian Finance PLC, 2.375%, 6/15/17 (n)    $ 353,000      $ 358,323   

 

7


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Defense Electronics - 0.6%                 
BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 5.2%, 8/15/15 (n)    $ 1,297,000      $ 1,364,807   
BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 6.375%, 6/01/19 (n)      380,000        438,359   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,803,166   
Electrical Equipment - 0.3%                 
Arrow Electronics, Inc., 3%, 3/01/18    $ 344,000      $ 352,748   
Ericsson, Inc., 4.125%, 5/15/22      670,000        690,661   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,043,409   
Electronics - 0.3%                 
Tyco Electronics Group S.A., 3.5%, 2/03/22    $ 275,000      $ 276,704   
Xilinx, Inc., 3%, 3/15/21      830,000        833,684   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,110,388   
Emerging Market Quasi-Sovereign - 1.9%                 
Banco de Reservas de la Republica Dominicana, 7%, 2/01/23 (n)    $ 218,000      $ 209,553   
CNOOC Finance (2012) Ltd., 3.875%, 5/02/22 (n)      204,000        201,614   
CNPC (HK) Overseas Capital Ltd., 4.5%, 4/28/21 (n)      494,000        518,184   
Comision Federal de Electricidad, 5.75%, 2/14/42 (n)      639,000        635,006   
Gaz Capital S.A., 4.95%, 2/06/28 (n)      615,000        502,763   
Instituto Costarricense, 6.375%, 5/15/43 (n)      208,000        172,900   
Korea Gas Corp., 2.25%, 7/25/17 (n)      700,000        709,188   
Pertamina PT, 6%, 5/03/42 (n)      201,000        179,393   
Petroleos Mexicanos, 5.5%, 1/21/21      542,000        593,490   
Petroleos Mexicanos, 4.875%, 1/24/22      344,000        361,114   
Petroleos Mexicanos, 4.875%, 1/18/24 (n)      53,000        54,842   
Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.5%, 6/02/41      292,000        324,120   
PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, 5.5%, 11/22/21 (n)      200,000        203,250   
Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co. Ltd., 5.832%, 9/30/16 (n)      398,720        423,640   
Sinopec Capital (2013) Ltd., 3.125%, 4/24/23 (n)      518,000        479,755   
Sinopec Capital (2013) Ltd., 4.25%, 4/24/43 (n)      426,000        380,323   
Sinopec Group Overseas Development (2012) Ltd., 3.9%, 5/17/22 (n)      200,000        198,395   
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,147,530   
Emerging Market Sovereign - 0.7%                 
Oriental Republic of Uruguay, 4.5%, 8/14/24    $ 86,000      $ 88,688   
Republic of Colombia, 6.125%, 1/18/41      210,000        239,400   
Republic of Hungary, 5.375%, 2/21/23      82,000        85,588   
Republic of Indonesia, 4.875%, 5/05/21 (n)      200,000        206,250   
Republic of Philippines, 5.5%, 3/30/26      200,000        227,000   
Republic of Philippines, 6.375%, 10/23/34      300,000        375,750   
Republic of Romania, 4.375%, 8/22/23 (n)      60,000        60,750   
Republic of Romania, 4.875%, 1/22/24 (n)      58,000        60,900   
Republic of Slovakia, 4.375%, 5/21/22 (n)      600,000        632,682   

 

8


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Emerging Market Sovereign - continued                 
Russian Federation, 4.875%, 9/16/23 (n)    $ 200,000      $ 189,750   
Russian Federation, 5.625%, 4/04/42 (n)      200,000        184,000   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,350,758   
Energy - Independent - 0.2%                 
EQT Corp., 4.875%, 11/15/21    $ 431,000      $ 461,439   
Hess Corp., 8.125%, 2/15/19      270,000        340,054   
    

 

 

 
             $ 801,493   
Energy - Integrated - 1.2%                 
BP Capital Markets PLC, 4.5%, 10/01/20    $ 272,000      $ 299,933   
BP Capital Markets PLC, 4.742%, 3/11/21      760,000        845,992   
LUKOIL International Finance B.V., 3.416%, 4/24/18 (n)      571,000        536,883   
LUKOIL International Finance B.V., 4.563%, 4/24/23 (n)      784,000        686,000   
Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., 7.25%, 12/12/21 (n)      401,000        438,093   
Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., 5.125%, 3/28/23 (n)      100,000        96,625   
Petro-Canada Financial Partnership, 5%, 11/15/14      860,000        880,004   
    

 

 

 
             $ 3,783,530   
Financial Institutions - 1.7%                 
CIT Group, Inc., 3.875%, 2/19/19    $ 1,940,000      $ 1,961,825   
General Electric Capital Corp., 6%, 8/07/19      300,000        353,979   
General Electric Capital Corp., 5.5%, 1/08/20      710,000        819,147   
General Electric Capital Corp., 3.15%, 9/07/22      813,000        813,113   
General Electric Capital Corp., 3.1%, 1/09/23      508,000        502,730   
LeasePlan Corp. N.V., 3%, 10/23/17 (n)      870,000        888,105   
LeasePlan Corp. N.V., 2.5%, 5/16/18 (n)      286,000        285,499   
    

 

 

 
             $ 5,624,398   
Food & Beverages - 2.9%                 
Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii A.S., 3.375%, 11/01/22    $ 956,000      $ 822,160   
BRF S.A., 3.95%, 5/22/23 (n)      994,000        911,995   
Conagra Foods, Inc., 3.2%, 1/25/23      743,000        716,693   
Embotelladora Andina S.A., 5%, 10/01/23 (n)      200,000        212,355   
Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V., 4.5%, 1/25/22 (n)      101,000        104,676   
Kerry Group Financial Services, 3.2%, 4/09/23 (n)      1,400,000        1,312,790   
Kraft Foods Group, Inc., 6.125%, 8/23/18      720,000        842,391   
Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., “A”, 4.9%, 11/01/19      263,000        290,487   
Pernod Ricard S.A., 5.75%, 4/07/21 (n)      594,000        677,954   
SABMiller Holdings, Inc., 3.75%, 1/15/22 (n)      904,000        933,418   
Tyson Foods, Inc., 6.6%, 4/01/16      560,000        616,030   
Tyson Foods, Inc., 4.5%, 6/15/22      448,000        474,208   
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., 2.4%, 10/21/18 (n)      343,000        347,562   
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., 3.375%, 10/21/20 (n)      1,051,000        1,080,798   
    

 

 

 
             $ 9,343,517   

 

9


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Forest & Paper Products - 0.3%                 
Georgia-Pacific LLC, 3.734%, 7/15/23 (n)    $ 1,092,000      $ 1,097,562   
Gaming & Lodging - 0.5%                 
Wyndham Worldwide Corp., 5.625%, 3/01/21    $ 1,360,000      $ 1,490,923   
Industrial - 0.2%                 
Johns Hopkins University, 5.25%, 7/01/19    $ 587,000      $ 666,719   
Insurance - 2.3%                 
American International Group, Inc., 3%, 3/20/15    $ 20,000      $ 20,439   
American International Group, Inc., 5.85%, 1/16/18      881,000        1,005,647   
American International Group, Inc., 3.375%, 8/15/20      810,000        838,480   
MetLife, Inc., 1.756%, 12/15/17      223,000        224,896   
Metropolitan Life Global Funding I, 5.125%, 6/10/14 (n)      430,000        432,027   
Principal Financial Group, Inc., 8.875%, 5/15/19      650,000        829,752   
Prudential Financial, Inc., 6.2%, 1/15/15      660,000        686,116   
Unum Group, 7.125%, 9/30/16      945,000        1,075,797   
Unum Group, 4%, 3/15/24      1,384,000        1,405,654   
Voya Financial, Inc., 2.9%, 2/15/18      403,000        415,820   
Voya Financial, Inc., 5.7%, 7/15/43      506,000        585,824   
    

 

 

 
      $ 7,520,452   
Insurance - Property & Casualty - 2.2%                 
Aon Corp., 3.5%, 9/30/15    $ 760,000      $ 788,473   
AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd., 5.75%, 12/01/14      1,035,000        1,066,069   
AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd., 5.875%, 6/01/20      370,000        422,013   
AXIS Specialty Finance LLC, 2.65%, 4/01/19      141,000        141,638   
CNA Financial Corp., 5.875%, 8/15/20      990,000        1,151,056   
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.95%, 5/01/22 (n)      757,000        816,620   
PartnerRe Ltd., 5.5%, 6/01/20      583,000        647,934   
QBE Capital Funding III Ltd., FRN, 7.25%, 5/24/41 (n)      920,000        986,700   
ZFS Finance USA Trust V, 6.5% to 5/09/17, FRN to 5/09/67 (n)      1,095,000        1,174,388   
    

 

 

 
             $ 7,194,891   
International Market Quasi-Sovereign - 1.3%                 
EDF Energies Nouvelles S.A., 6.5%, 1/26/19 (n)    $ 1,090,000      $ 1,297,547   
Eksportfinans A.S.A., 5.5%, 5/25/16      965,000        1,022,900   
Israel Electric Corp. Ltd., 6.7%, 2/10/17 (n)      553,000        602,079   
Israel Electric Corp. Ltd., 5.625%, 6/21/18 (n)      1,159,000        1,225,643   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,148,169   
International Market Sovereign - 8.9%                 
Federal Republic of Germany, 4.25%, 7/04/18    EUR 756,000      $ 1,216,178   
Federal Republic of Germany, 6.25%, 1/04/30    EUR 485,000        1,048,054   
Government of Australia, 5.75%, 5/15/21    AUD 693,000        727,761   

 

10


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
International Market Sovereign - continued                 
Government of Canada, 4.5%, 6/01/15    CAD 658,000      $ 622,934   
Government of Canada, 4.25%, 6/01/18    CAD 533,000        539,852   
Government of Canada, 3.25%, 6/01/21    CAD 302,000        298,184   
Government of Canada, 5.75%, 6/01/33    CAD 119,000        155,124   
Government of Japan, 1.8%, 3/20/43    JPY 52,000,000        520,499   
Government of Japan, 1.1%, 6/20/20    JPY 191,000,000        1,961,649   
Government of Japan, 2.1%, 9/20/24    JPY 62,000,000        693,747   
Government of Japan, 2.2%, 9/20/27    JPY 148,300,000        1,686,432   
Government of Japan, 2.4%, 3/20/37    JPY 153,200,000        1,723,724   
Kingdom of Belgium, 5.5%, 9/28/17    EUR 977,000        1,583,385   
Kingdom of Belgium, 4.25%, 9/28/21    EUR 230,000        381,061   
Kingdom of Denmark, 3%, 11/15/21    DKK 1,532,000        322,130   
Kingdom of Spain, 5.4%, 1/31/23    EUR 242,000        402,453   
Kingdom of Spain, 4.6%, 7/30/19    EUR 1,417,000        2,246,932   
Kingdom of Sweden, 5%, 12/01/20    SEK 1,100,000        205,128   
Kingdom of the Netherlands, 5.5%, 1/15/28    EUR 354,000        690,004   
Republic of Austria, 4.65%, 1/15/18    EUR 608,000        971,216   
Republic of Finland, 3.875%, 9/15/17    EUR 281,000        434,563   
Republic of France, 6%, 10/25/25    EUR 282,000        545,756   
Republic of France, 4.75%, 4/25/35    EUR 591,000        1,081,914   
Republic of Iceland, 4.875%, 6/16/16 (n)    $ 593,000        622,650   
Republic of Iceland, 5.875%, 5/11/22 (n)      113,000        123,029   
Republic of Ireland, 4.5%, 4/18/20    EUR 279,000        447,539   
Republic of Ireland, 5.4%, 3/13/25    EUR 170,000        287,602   
Republic of Italy, 5.25%, 8/01/17    EUR 2,230,000        3,484,530   
Republic of Italy, 3.75%, 3/01/21    EUR 1,482,000        2,235,933   
Republic of Portugal, 4.45%, 6/15/18    EUR 218,000        328,712   
Republic of Portugal, 4.8%, 6/15/20    EUR 110,000        169,268   
United Kingdom Treasury, 8%, 6/07/21    GBP 209,000        485,938   
United Kingdom Treasury, 4.25%, 3/07/36    GBP 435,000        834,495   
    

 

 

 
             $ 29,078,376   
Internet - 0.3%                 
Baidu, Inc., 3.25%, 8/06/18    $ 588,000      $ 600,642   
Baidu, Inc., 3.5%, 11/28/22      367,000        350,004   
    

 

 

 
             $ 950,646   
Local Authorities - 0.4%                 
State of Illinois (Build America Bonds), 6.725%, 4/01/35    $ 1,130,000      $ 1,294,539   
Machinery & Tools - 0.4%                 
Atlas Copco AB, 5.6%, 5/22/17 (n)    $ 1,073,000      $ 1,202,408   
Ferreycorp S.A.A., 4.875%, 4/26/20 (n)      221,000        214,370   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,416,778   

 

11


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Major Banks - 7.9%                 
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., 4.25%, 2/02/17 (n)    $ 913,000      $ 980,516   
Bank of America Corp., 7.375%, 5/15/14      460,000        460,900   
Bank of America Corp., 6.5%, 8/01/16      1,305,000        1,455,821   
Bank of America Corp., 3.3%, 1/11/23      1,554,000        1,508,396   
Bank of America Corp., 4.125%, 1/22/24      1,371,000        1,390,385   
Barclays Bank PLC, 5.125%, 1/08/20      770,000        865,425   
BNP Paribas, 2.7%, 8/20/18      950,000        972,841   
BNP Paribas, 7.195% to 6/29/37, FRN to 12/31/49 (n)      600,000        672,000   
BNP Paribas, FRN, 2.985%, 12/20/14      164,000        166,697   
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 5%, 10/15/19 (n)      760,000        852,825   
Credit Suisse Group AG, 6.5%, 8/08/23 (n)      1,160,000        1,294,896   
DBS Bank Ltd., 2.35%, 2/28/17 (n)      980,000        1,007,886   
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.125%, 1/15/15      450,000        464,027   
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.75%, 1/24/22      1,213,000        1,384,022   
HSBC USA, Inc., 4.875%, 8/24/20      930,000        1,022,099   
ING Bank N.V., 3.75%, 3/07/17 (n)      1,233,000        1,311,806   
ING Bank N.V., 5.8%, 9/25/23 (n)      1,344,000        1,473,535   
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2%, 8/15/17      330,000        334,900   
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.625%, 5/10/21      870,000        953,187   
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 6.4%, 8/28/17      400,000        458,178   
Morgan Stanley, 6%, 5/13/14      620,000        620,768   
Morgan Stanley, 7.3%, 5/13/19      250,000        303,093   
Morgan Stanley, 5.625%, 9/23/19      420,000        478,882   
Morgan Stanley, FRN, 1.485%, 2/25/16      1,400,000        1,420,132   
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, 2.55%, 9/18/15      471,000        481,043   
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, 6%, 12/19/23      1,611,000        1,682,963   
Santander U.S. Debt S.A.U., 3.724%, 1/20/15 (n)      400,000        407,426   
Standard Chartered PLC, 3.85%, 4/27/15 (n)      850,000        875,424   
Wells Fargo & Co., 7.98% to 2018, FRN to 12/31/49      405,000        459,675   
    

 

 

 
             $ 25,759,748   
Medical & Health Technology & Services - 0.4%                 
McKesson Corp., 5.7%, 3/01/17    $ 370,000      $ 410,566   
Owens & Minor, Inc., 6.35%, 4/15/16      710,000        769,764   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,180,330   
Metals & Mining - 1.5%                 
Barrick Gold Corp., 4.1%, 5/01/23    $ 1,360,000      $ 1,324,285   
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., 2.375%, 3/15/18      500,000        502,834   
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., 3.1%, 3/15/20      810,000        802,235   
Glencore Funding LLC, FRN, 1.394%, 5/27/16 (n)      1,170,000        1,176,214   
Kinross Gold Corp., 5.95%, 3/15/24 (n)      924,000        935,565   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,741,133   

 

12


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Mortgage-Backed - 0.7%                 
Fannie Mae, 5.5%, 7/01/19 - 11/01/36    $ 596,392      $ 646,361   
Fannie Mae, 6.5%, 5/01/31      55,850        64,105   
Fannie Mae, 6%, 11/01/34 (f)      550,261        614,098   
Freddie Mac, 4.224%, 3/25/20      818,658        896,213   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,220,777   
Municipals - 0.3%                 
Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Finance Corp. Rev, “A”, 2.107%, 7/01/18    $ 1,015,000      $ 1,016,228   
Natural Gas - Distribution - 0.4%                 
GDF Suez, 1.625%, 10/10/17 (n)    $ 1,400,000      $ 1,406,128   
Natural Gas - Pipeline - 2.6%                 
DCP Midstream LLC, 3.875%, 3/15/23    $ 630,000      $ 627,978   
Energy Transfer Partners LP, 3.6%, 2/01/23      825,000        802,150   
Energy Transfer Partners LP, 6.5%, 2/01/42      779,000        904,051   
EnLink Midstream Partners LP, 4.4%, 4/01/24      705,000        725,810   
Enterprise Products Partners LP, 6.3%, 9/15/17      870,000        1,006,874   
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, 6.375%, 3/01/41      1,070,000        1,220,030   
ONEOK Partners LP, 3.2%, 9/15/18      510,000        529,781   
Spectra Energy Capital LLC, 8%, 10/01/19      679,000        840,312   
Sunoco Logistics Partners LP, 4.25%, 4/01/24      437,000        446,115   
Williams Cos., Inc., 3.7%, 1/15/23      279,000        257,609   
Williams Partners LP, 4.3%, 3/04/24      1,231,000        1,256,925   
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,617,635   
Network & Telecom - 1.3%                 
AT&T, Inc., 5.5%, 2/01/18    $ 660,000      $ 748,392   
Centurylink, Inc., 7.65%, 3/15/42      810,000        787,725   
Verizon Communications, Inc., 8.75%, 11/01/18      448,000        572,317   
Verizon Communications, Inc., 5.15%, 9/15/23      1,439,000        1,586,262   
Verizon Communications, Inc., FRN, 1.003%, 6/17/19      610,000        617,344   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,312,040   
Oil Services - 0.5%                 
Odebrecht Offshore Drilling Finance Ltd., 6.75%, 10/01/22 (n)    $ 512,718      $ 536,432   
Transocean, Inc., 2.5%, 10/15/17      314,000        319,372   
Transocean, Inc., 6%, 3/15/18      670,000        748,164   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,603,968   
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - 4.0%                 
Abbey National Treasury Services PLC, 3.05%, 8/23/18    $ 345,000      $ 359,326   
Banco GNB Sudameris S.A., 3.875%, 5/02/18 (n)      102,000        100,215   

 

13


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Other Banks & Diversified Financials - continued                 
Bancolombia S.A., 5.95%, 6/03/21    $ 398,000      $ 430,835   
Bancolombia S.A., 5.125%, 9/11/22      43,000        42,624   
BBVA Banco Continental S.A., 5%, 8/26/22 (n)      40,000        41,200   
Citigroup, Inc., 6.375%, 8/12/14      630,000        640,003   
Citigroup, Inc., 6.01%, 1/15/15      530,000        549,743   
Citigroup, Inc., 8.5%, 5/22/19      919,000        1,170,869   
Groupe BPCE S.A., 5.7%, 10/22/23 (n)      1,081,000        1,144,660   
Groupe BPCE S.A., 12.5% to 9/30/19, FRN to 12/31/49 (n)      645,000        857,850   
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., 2.375%, 1/13/17      420,000        424,279   
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., 3.875%, 1/16/18      996,000        1,046,547   
Lloyds TSB Bank PLC, 5.8%, 1/13/20 (n)      645,000        745,691   
Macquarie Bank Ltd., 5%, 2/22/17 (n)      769,000        839,909   
Macquarie Group Ltd., 6%, 1/14/20 (n)      428,000        479,274   
Rabobank Nederland N.V., 3.375%, 1/19/17      525,000        556,985   
Rabobank Nederland N.V., 3.95%, 11/09/22      1,174,000        1,180,944   
Santander Holdings USA, Inc., 4.625%, 4/19/16      130,000        139,055   
Santander Holdings USA, Inc., 3.45%, 8/27/18      490,000        511,747   
SunTrust Banks, Inc., 3.5%, 1/20/17      622,000        658,232   
Swedbank AB, 2.125%, 9/29/17 (n)      615,000        624,953   
U.S. Bancorp, 2.95%, 7/15/22      416,000        402,763   
    

 

 

 
             $ 12,947,704   
Personal Computers & Peripherals - 0.2%                 
Equifax, Inc., 3.3%, 12/15/22    $ 671,000      $ 650,490   
Pharmaceuticals - 0.5%                 
Celgene Corp., 3.95%, 10/15/20    $ 890,000      $ 937,562   
Hospira, Inc., 6.05%, 3/30/17      490,000        541,248   
    

 

 

 
             $ 1,478,810   
Pollution Control - 0.2%                 
Republic Services, Inc., 5.25%, 11/15/21    $ 730,000      $ 821,722   
Railroad & Shipping - 0.3%                 
CSX Corp., 4.1%, 3/15/44    $ 915,000      $ 856,490   
Real Estate - 2.1%                 
AvalonBay Communities, Inc., REIT, 3.625%, 10/01/20    $ 999,000      $ 1,037,247   
Boston Properties LP, REIT, 3.7%, 11/15/18      420,000        447,352   
DDR Corp., REIT, 3.375%, 5/15/23      1,263,000        1,210,358   
HCP, Inc., REIT, 5.375%, 2/01/21      806,000        912,129   
Health Care REIT, Inc., 2.25%, 3/15/18      312,000        315,687   
Kimco Realty Corp., REIT, 6.875%, 10/01/19      191,000        229,037   

 

14


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
Real Estate - continued                 
Simon Property Group, Inc., REIT, 6.1%, 5/01/16    $ 1,790,000      $ 1,953,910   
WEA Finance LLC, 6.75%, 9/02/19 (n)      590,000        714,245   
    

 

 

 
             $ 6,819,965   
Retailers - 1.3%                 
Dollar General Corp., 4.125%, 7/15/17    $ 706,000      $ 754,368   
Gap, Inc., 5.95%, 4/12/21      1,118,000        1,272,252   
Kohl’s Corp., 3.25%, 2/01/23      997,000        945,968   
Limited Brands, Inc., 5.25%, 11/01/14      242,000        246,840   
Macy’s, Inc., 7.875%, 7/15/15      860,000        931,432   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,150,860   
Supermarkets - 0.3%                 
Kroger Co., 3.85%, 8/01/23    $ 1,090,000      $ 1,106,755   
Supranational - 0.4%                 
Corporacion Andina de Fomento, 4.375%, 6/15/22    $ 1,290,000      $ 1,364,607   
Telecommunications - Wireless - 0.9%                 
American Tower Corp., REIT, 4.625%, 4/01/15    $ 440,000      $ 455,526   
American Tower Corp., REIT, 4.7%, 3/15/22      732,000        768,368   
Crown Castle Towers LLC, 6.113%, 1/15/20 (n)      838,000        969,915   
Digicel Group Ltd., 6%, 4/15/21 (n)      316,000        319,950   
Millicom International Cellular S.A., 4.75%, 5/22/20 (n)      205,000        197,825   
MTS International Funding Ltd., 5%, 5/30/23 (n)      201,000        178,890   
    

 

 

 
             $ 2,890,474   
Telephone Services - 0.0%                 
B Communications Ltd., 7.375%, 2/15/21 (n)    $ 22,000      $ 23,265   
Tobacco - 1.4%                 
Altria Group, Inc., 9.25%, 8/06/19    $ 231,000      $ 306,350   
Altria Group, Inc., 4%, 1/31/24      401,000        408,479   
Lorillard Tobacco Co., 8.125%, 6/23/19      640,000        795,606   
Lorillard Tobacco Co., 6.875%, 5/01/20      480,000        566,824   
Reynolds American, Inc., 6.75%, 6/15/17      1,040,000        1,199,034   
Reynolds American, Inc., 4.75%, 11/01/42      1,270,000        1,192,596   
    

 

 

 
             $ 4,468,889   
Transportation - 0.1%                 
Far Eastern Shipping Co., 8%, 5/02/18 (n)    $ 310,000      $ 218,550   
Transportation - Services - 0.3%                 
ERAC USA Finance Co., 6.375%, 10/15/17 (n)    $ 930,000      $ 1,067,993   

 

15


Table of Contents

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Issuer    Shares/Par     Value ($)  
    
Bonds - continued                 
U.S. Government Agencies and Equivalents - 0.1%                 
National Credit Union Administration Guaranteed Note, 2.9%, 10/29/20    $ 240,000      $ 249,126   
Utilities - Electric Power - 2.6%                 
CMS Energy Corp., 4.25%, 9/30/15    $ 760,000      $ 795,752   
CMS Energy Corp., 5.05%, 3/15/22      608,000        684,361   
Empresa Nacional de Electricidad S.A., 4.25%, 4/15/24      52,000        52,092   
Enel Finance International S.A., 6.25%, 9/15/17 (n)      920,000        1,045,313   
Exelon Generation Co. LLC, 5.2%, 10/01/19      360,000        403,424   
Exelon Generation Co. LLC, 4.25%, 6/15/22      391,000        400,486   
Oncor Electric Delivery Co., 4.1%, 6/01/22      922,000        977,387   
PPL Capital Funding, Inc., 3.95%, 3/15/24      1,380,000        1,413,081   
PPL WEM Holdings PLC, 3.9%, 5/01/16 (n)      1,210,000        1,269,659   
Progress Energy, Inc., 3.15%, 4/01/22      1,148,000        1,141,796   
Waterford 3 Funding Corp., 8.09%, 1/02/17      232,299        232,081   
    

 

 

 
             $ 8,415,432   
Total Bonds (Identified Cost, $197,223,780)            $ 207,642,106   
Common Stocks - 0.0%                 
Printing & Publishing - 0.0%                 
American Media Operations, Inc. (a) (Identified Cost, $104,328)      7,311      $ 41,088   
Underlying Affiliated Funds - 33.7%                 
MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio (v)
(Identified Cost, $106,721,215)
     11,027,117      $ 109,940,353   
Money Market Funds - 1.8%                 
MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio, 0.09%,
at Cost and Net Asset Value (v)
     5,970,483      $ 5,970,483   
Total Investments (Identified Cost, $310,019,806)            $ 323,594,030   
Other Assets, Less Liabilities - 0.8%              2,503,269   
Net Assets - 100.0%            $ 326,097,299   

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(f) All or a portion of the security has been segregated as collateral for open futures contracts.
(i) Interest only security for which the fund receives interest on notional principal (Par amount). Par amount shown is the notional principal and does not reflect the cost of the security.
(n) Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be sold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At period end, the aggregate value of these securities was $59,109,779, representing 18.1% of net assets.

 

16


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

(p) Payment-in-kind security for which interest income may be received in additional securities and/or cash. During the period, the following amount of interest income was received in additional securities and/or cash:

 

Payment-in-kind Securities    Cash      Additional
Securities
 
Crest Ltd., CDO, 7%, 1/28/40      $—         $8,942   

 

(v) Underlying affiliated fund that is available only to investment companies managed by MFS. The rate quoted for the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end.
(z) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. The fund holds the following restricted securities:

 

Restricted Securities    Acquisition
Date
   Cost      Value  
Bayview Financial Revolving Mortgage Loan Trust, FRN, 1.752%, 12/28/40    3/01/06      $405,329         $268,221   
Falcon Franchise Loan LLC, FRN, 11.062%, 1/05/23    1/18/02      13,253         43,587   
Falcon Franchise Loan LLC, FRN, 14.914%, 1/05/25    1/29/03      16,955         73,171   
Morgan Stanley Capital I, Inc., FRN, 1.412%, 4/28/39    7/20/04      26,676         15,552   
Tencent Holdings Ltd., 3.375%, 5/02/19    4/22/14      199,790         201,044   
Total Restricted Securities         $601,575   
% of Net assets         0.2%   

The following abbreviations are used in this report and are defined:

 

CDO   Collateralized Debt Obligation
CLO   Collateralized Loan Obligation
FRN   Floating Rate Note. Interest rate resets periodically and may not be the rate reported at period end.
PLC   Public Limited Company
REIT   Real Estate Investment Trust

Abbreviations indicate amounts shown in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. A list of abbreviations is shown below:

 

AUD   Australian Dollar
CAD   Canadian Dollar
DKK   Danish Krone
EUR   Euro
GBP   British Pound
JPY   Japanese Yen
SEK   Swedish Krona

 

17


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Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) – continued

 

Derivative Contracts at 4/30/14

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts at 4/30/14

 

Type   Currency   Counter-
party
  Contracts
to
Deliver/
Receive
    Settlement
Date Range
    In
Exchange
for
    Contracts
at Value
    Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Liability Derivatives                              
SELL   AUD   Westpac Banking Corp.     792,198        7/11/14        $729,179        $732,315        $(3,136
SELL   CAD   Merrill Lynch International Bank     1,872,628        7/11/14        1,700,009        1,705,625        (5,616
SELL   DKK   Barclays Bank PLC     850,521        7/11/14        157,281        158,140        (859
SELL   DKK   UBS AG     850,521        7/11/14        157,297        158,140        (843
SELL   EUR   Credit Suisse Group     2,344,997        7/11/14        3,237,000        3,252,797        (15,797
SELL   GBP   Credit Suisse Group     419,100        7/11/14        701,042        707,215        (6,173
SELL   GBP   Merrill Lynch International Bank     419,100        7/11/14        701,096        707,215        (6,119
BUY   JPY   Deutsche Bank AG     149,509,206        7/11/14        1,467,512        1,463,027        (4,485
BUY   JPY   Goldman Sachs International     149,509,206        7/11/14        1,467,661        1,463,027        (4,634
SELL   SEK   Goldman Sachs International     1,114,421        7/11/14        170,198        171,183        (985
             

 

 

 
                $(48,647
             

 

 

 

Futures Contracts at 4/30/14

 

Description   Currency     Contracts     Value   Expiration
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Liability Derivatives          
Interest Rate Futures           
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr (Short)     USD        206      $25,630,906     June - 2014        $(4,230
U.S. Treasury Bond 30 yr (Short)     USD        13      1,754,188     June - 2014        (33,868
         

 

 

 
            $(38,098
         

 

 

 

At April 30, 2014, the fund had liquid securities with an aggregate value of $377,074 to cover any commitments for certain derivative contracts.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

At 4/30/14 (unaudited)

This statement represents your fund’s balance sheet, which details the assets and liabilities comprising the total value of the fund.

 

Assets         

Investments-

  

Non-affiliated issuers, at value (identified cost, $197,328,108)

     $207,683,194   

Underlying affiliated funds, at value (identified cost, $112,691,698)

     115,910,836   

Total investments, at value (identified cost, $310,019,806)

     $323,594,030   

Cash

     310,617   

Receivables for

  

Investments sold

     1,002,259   

Fund shares sold

     515,729   

Interest

     2,415,287   

Other assets

     1,515   

Total assets

     $327,839,437   
Liabilities         

Payables for

  

Distributions

     $108,689   

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     48,647   

Daily variation margin on open futures contracts

     94,219   

Investments purchased

     388,233   

Fund shares reacquired

     818,914   

Payable to affiliates

  

Investment adviser

     969   

Shareholder servicing costs

     212,941   

Distribution and service fees

     7,860   

Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation

     10,934   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     50,732   

Total liabilities

     $1,742,138   

Net assets

     $326,097,299   
Net assets consist of         

Paid-in capital

     $324,150,775   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     13,492,511   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     (11,158,288

Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income

     (387,699

Net assets

     $326,097,299   

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

     48,081,731   

 

     Net assets      Shares
outstanding
     Net asset value
per share (a)
 

Class A

     $225,641,370         33,188,021         $6.80   

Class B

     36,986,025         5,479,740         6.75   

Class C

     50,392,793         7,489,708         6.73   

Class I

     13,077,111         1,924,262         6.80   

 

(a) Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except for Class A, for which the maximum offering price per share was $7.14 [100 / 95.25 x $6.80]. On sales of $50,000 or more, the maximum offering price of Class A shares is reduced. A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Redemption price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for Class I.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

19


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended 4/30/14 (unaudited)

This statement describes how much your fund earned in investment income and accrued in expenses. It also describes any gains and/or losses generated by fund operations.

 

Net investment income   

Income

  

Interest

     $4,300,817   

Dividends from underlying affiliated funds

     3,724,031   

Total investment income

     $8,024,848   

Expenses

  

Management fee

     $1,028,588   

Distribution and service fees

     704,370   

Shareholder servicing costs

     208,913   

Administrative services fee

     24,043   

Independent Trustees’ compensation

     5,082   

Custodian fee

     34,010   

Shareholder communications

     19,593   

Audit and tax fees

     32,274   

Legal fees

     1,661   

Miscellaneous

     49,221   

Total expenses

     $2,107,755   

Fees paid indirectly

     (42

Reduction of expenses by investment adviser and distributor

     (141,952

Net expenses

     $1,965,761   

Net investment income

     $6,059,087   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   

Realized gain (loss) (identified cost basis)

  

Investments:

  

Non-affiliated issuers

     $672,517   

Underlying affiliated funds

     819,441   

Capital gain distributions from underlying affiliated funds

     784,528   

Futures contracts

     (637,487

Foreign currency

     (193,583

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $1,445,416   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

  

Investments

     $1,372,125   

Futures contracts

     616,885   

Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies

     537   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     $1,989,547   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     $3,434,963   

Change in net assets from operations

     $9,494,050   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

20


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

These statements describe the increases and/or decreases in net assets resulting from operations, any distributions, and any shareholder transactions.

 

     Six months ended
4/30/14
     Year ended
10/31/13
 
Change in net assets    (unaudited)         
From operations                  

Net investment income

     $6,059,087         $12,360,453   

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

     1,445,416         4,904,667   

Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency translation

     1,989,547         (11,922,538

Change in net assets from operations

     $9,494,050         $5,342,582   
Distributions declared to shareholders                  

From net investment income

     $(6,791,200      $(14,021,721

Change in net assets from fund share transactions

     $5,501,570         $(889,377

Total change in net assets

     $8,204,420         $(9,568,516
Net assets                  

At beginning of period

     317,892,879         327,461,395   

At end of period (including accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income of $387,699 and undistributed net investment income of $344,414, respectively)

     $326,097,299         $317,892,879   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

21


Table of Contents

Financial Statements

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the fund’s financial performance for the semiannual period and the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate by which an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions) held for the entire period.

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class A     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $6.74        $6.92        $6.60        $6.72        $6.30        $5.43   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.13        $0.27        $0.29        $0.31        $0.33        $0.33   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    0.08        (0.15     0.35        (0.10     0.44        0.98   

Total from investment operations

    $0.21        $0.12        $0.64        $0.21        $0.77        $1.31   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.15     $(0.30     $(0.32     $(0.33     $(0.35     $(0.44

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $6.80        $6.74        $6.92        $6.60        $6.72        $6.30   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    3.15 (n)      1.85        9.98        3.24        12.56        25.36   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.13 (a)(h)      1.15 (h)      1.18        1.16        1.18        1.28   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.05 (a)(h)      1.05 (h)      1.05        1.05        1.02        0.92   

Net investment income

    4.01 (a)      3.95        4.38        4.62        5.14        5.86   

Portfolio turnover

    9 (n)      34        42        38        49        53   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $225,641        $218,674        $222,166        $203,155        $216,200        $188,786   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

22


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class B     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $6.69        $6.86        $6.54        $6.66        $6.24        $5.38   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.11        $0.22        $0.24        $0.26        $0.28        $0.29   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    0.07        (0.14     0.35        (0.10     0.44        0.96   

Total from investment operations

    $0.18        $0.08        $0.59        $0.16        $0.72        $1.25   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.12     $(0.25     $(0.27     $(0.28     $(0.30     $(0.39

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $6.75        $6.69        $6.86        $6.54        $6.66        $6.24   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    2.78 (n)      1.22        9.22        2.45        11.80        24.45   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.89 (a)(h)      1.91 (h)      1.94        1.92        1.94        2.01   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.80 (a)(h)      1.80 (h)      1.80        1.80        1.77        1.63   

Net investment income

    3.30 (a)      3.24        3.66        3.92        4.46        5.22   

Portfolio turnover

    9 (n)      34        42        38        49        53   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $36,986        $37,673        $39,238        $34,112        $39,468        $39,976   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

23


Table of Contents

Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class C     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $6.67        $6.84        $6.52        $6.64        $6.22        $5.35   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.11        $0.22        $0.24        $0.26        $0.28        $0.29   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    0.07        (0.14     0.35        (0.10     0.44        0.97   

Total from investment operations

    $0.18        $0.08        $0.59        $0.16        $0.72        $1.26   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.12     $(0.25     $(0.27     $(0.28     $(0.30     $(0.39

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $6.73        $6.67        $6.84        $6.52        $6.64        $6.22   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(t)(x)

    2.78 (n)      1.21        9.23        2.45        11.82        24.74   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    1.89 (a)(h)      1.91 (h)      1.94        1.92        1.94        2.01   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    1.80 (a)(h)      1.80 (h)      1.80        1.80        1.77        1.64   

Net investment income

    3.32 (a)      3.26        3.68        3.94        4.47        5.19   

Portfolio turnover

    9 (n)      34        42        38        49        53   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $50,393        $49,910        $54,671        $46,531        $46,789        $37,931   

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Financial Highlights – continued

 

   

Six months
ended
4/30/14

(unaudited)

    Years ended 10/31  
Class I     2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  
                                 

Net asset value, beginning of
period

    $6.74        $6.91        $6.59        $6.72        $6.30        $5.43   
Income (loss) from investment operations                           

Net investment income (d)

    $0.14        $0.29        $0.31        $0.32        $0.35        $0.35   

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
foreign currency

    0.08        (0.14     0.35        (0.10     0.43        0.97   

Total from investment operations

    $0.22        $0.15        $0.66        $0.22        $0.78        $1.32   
Less distributions declared to shareholders                           

From net investment income

    $(0.16     $(0.32     $(0.34     $(0.35     $(0.36     $(0.45

Net asset value, end of period (x)

    $6.80        $6.74        $6.91        $6.59        $6.72        $6.30   

Total return (%) (r)(s)(x)

    3.28 (n)      2.25        10.27        3.34        12.84        25.71   
Ratios (%) (to average net assets)
and Supplemental data:
                                   

Expenses before expense
reductions (f)

    0.89 (a)(h)      0.90 (h)      0.93        0.91        0.93        1.00   

Expenses after expense
reductions (f)

    0.80 (a)(h)      0.80 (h)      0.80        0.80        0.77        0.64   

Net investment income

    4.26 (a)      4.21        4.61        4.83        5.36        6.10   

Portfolio turnover

    9 (n)      34        42        38        49        53   

Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted)

    $13,077        $11,636        $11,387        $8,309        $4,823        $2,939   

 

(a) Annualized.
(d) Per share data is based on average shares outstanding.
(f) Ratios do not reflect reductions from fees paid indirectly, if applicable.
(h) In addition to the fees and expenses which the fund bears directly, the fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying affiliated funds in which the fund invests. Accordingly, the expense ratio for the fund reflects only those fees and expenses borne directly by the fund. Because the underlying affiliated funds have varied expense and fee levels and the fund may own different proportions of the underlying affiliated funds at different times, the amount of fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the fund will vary.
(n) Not annualized.
(r) Certain expenses have been reduced without which performance would have been lower.
(s) From time to time the fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements, without which performance would be lower.
(t) Total returns do not include any applicable sales charges.
(x) The net asset values per share and total returns have been calculated on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes.

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Business and Organization

MFS Strategic Income Fund (the fund) is a diversified series of MFS Series Trust VIII (the trust). The trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.

The fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

General – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events occurring after the date of the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities through the date that the financial statements were issued. The fund invests in the MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio (“High Yield Pooled Portfolio”). The accounting policies of the High Yield Pooled Portfolio are outlined in its shareholder report, which is available without charge by calling 1-800-225-2606 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) web site at http://www.sec.gov or at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. The accounting policies detailed in the Significant Accounting Policies note cover both the fund and the High Yield Pooled Portfolio. For purposes of this policy disclosure, “fund” refers to both the fund and the High Yield Pooled Portfolio in which the fund invests. The High Yield Pooled Portfolio’s shareholder report is not covered by this report. The fund and the High Yield Pooled Portfolio invest in high-yield securities rated below investment grade. Investments in high-yield securities involve greater degrees of credit and market risk than investments in higher-rated securities and tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions. The fund invests in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities are vulnerable to the effects of changes in the relative values of the local currency and the U.S. dollar and to the effects of changes in each country’s legal, political, and economic environment.

In this reporting period, the fund adopted the disclosure provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 (“ASU 2011-11”), Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities along with the related scope clarification provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Update 2013-01 (“ASU 2013-01”) entitled Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. ASU 2011-11 is intended to enhance disclosures on the offsetting of financial assets and liabilities by requiring entities to disclose both gross and net information about financial instruments and transactions that are either offset in the statement of financial position or subject to an enforceable Master Netting Agreement or similar arrangement. ASU 2013-01 limits the scope of ASU 2011-11’s disclosure requirements on offsetting to financial assets and financial liabilities related to

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and securities borrowing transactions. The disclosures required by ASU 2011-11, to the extent applicable to the fund, have been included in the fund’s Significant Accounting Policies note under the captions for each of the fund’s in-scope financial instruments and transactions.

The fund’s accounting policy with respect to balance sheet offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty. The fund’s right to setoff may be restricted or prohibited by the bankruptcy or insolvency laws of the particular jurisdiction to which a specific master netting agreement counterparty is subject. Balance sheet offsetting disclosures, to the extent applicable to the fund, have been included in the fund’s Significant Accounting Policies note under the captions for each of the fund’s in-scope financial instruments and transactions.

Investment Valuations – The investments of the fund and the High Yield Pooled Portfolio are valued as described below.

Debt instruments and floating rate loans (other than short-term instruments), including restricted debt instruments, are generally valued at an evaluated or composite bid as provided by a third-party pricing service. Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which they are primarily traded. Equity securities, for which there were no sales reported that day, are generally valued at the last quoted daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market or exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Short-term instruments with a maturity at issuance of 60 days or less generally are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Exchange-traded options are generally valued at the last sale or official closing price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the exchange on which such options are primarily traded. Exchange-traded options for which there were no sales reported that day are generally valued at the last daily bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the exchange on which such options are primarily traded. Options not traded on an exchange are generally valued at a broker/dealer bid quotation. Foreign currency options are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service. Futures contracts are generally valued at last posted settlement price as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market on which they are primarily traded. Futures contracts for which there were no trades that day for a particular position are generally valued at the closing bid quotation as provided by a third-party pricing service on the market on which such futures contracts are primarily traded. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are generally valued at the mean of bid and asked prices for the time period interpolated from rates provided by a third-party pricing service for proximate time periods. Swap agreements are generally valued at valuations provided by a third-party pricing service, which for cleared swaps includes an evaluation of any trading activity at the clearinghouses. Open-end investment companies are generally valued at net asset value per share. Securities and other assets generally valued on the basis of information from a third-party pricing service may also be valued at a

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

broker/dealer bid quotation. Values obtained from third-party pricing services can utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data. The values of foreign securities and other assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the mean of bid and asked prices for rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

The Board of Trustees has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the fund’s investments (including any fair valuation) to the adviser pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. If the adviser determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the adviser in accordance with such procedures under the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Under the fund’s valuation policies and procedures, market quotations are not considered to be readily available for most types of debt instruments and floating rate loans and many types of derivatives. These investments are generally valued at fair value based on information from third-party pricing services. In addition, investments may be valued at fair value if the adviser determines that an investment’s value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the investment is principally traded (such as foreign exchange or market) and prior to the determination of the fund’s net asset value, or after the halting of trading of a specific security where trading does not resume prior to the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded. The adviser generally relies on third-party pricing services or other information (such as the correlation with price movements of similar securities in the same or other markets; the type, cost and investment characteristics of the security; the business and financial condition of the issuer; and trading and other market data) to assist in determining whether to fair value and at what value to fair value an investment. The value of an investment for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value can differ depending on the source and method used to determine value. When fair valuation is used, the value of an investment used to determine the fund’s net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same investment. There can be no assurance that the fund could obtain the fair value assigned to an investment if it were to sell the investment at the same time at which the fund determines its net asset value per share.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s assets or liabilities. These inputs are categorized into three broad levels. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fund’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment. Level 1 includes unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 includes other significant observable market-based inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speed, and credit risk). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs, which may include the adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in total investments, such as futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

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The following is a summary of the levels used as of April 30, 2014 in valuing the fund’s assets or liabilities:

 

Investments at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Equity Securities      $—         $—         $41,088         $41,088   
U.S. Treasury Bonds & U.S. Government Agency & Equivalents              249,126                 249,126   
Non-U.S. Sovereign Debt              43,089,437                 43,089,437   
Municipal Bonds              1,016,228                 1,016,228   
U.S. Corporate Bonds              108,054,364                 108,054,364   
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities              2,220,776                 2,220,776   
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities              2,254,160                 2,254,160   
Asset-Backed Securities (including CDOs)              1,791,891                 1,791,891   
Foreign Bonds              48,966,124                 48,966,124   
Mutual Funds      115,910,836                         115,910,836   
Total Investments      $115,910,836         $207,642,106         $41,088         $323,594,030   
Other Financial Instruments                            
Futures Contracts      $(38,098      $—         $—         $(38,098
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts              (48,647              (48,647

For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Portfolio of Investments.

The following is a reconciliation of level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value. The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period. The table presents the activity of level 3 securities held at the beginning and the end of the period.

 

     Equity Securities  
Balance as of 10/31/13      $36,409   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     4,679   
Balance as of 4/30/14      $41,088   

The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments still held as level 3 at April 30, 2014 is $4,679.

Foreign Currency Translation – Purchases and sales of foreign investments, income, and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions or on the reporting date for foreign denominated receivables and payables. Gains and losses attributable to foreign currency exchange rates on sales of securities are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. Gains and losses attributable to foreign exchange rate movements on receivables, payables, income and expenses are recorded for financial statement purposes as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

 

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Derivatives – The fund uses derivatives for different purposes, primarily to increase or decrease exposure to a particular market or segment of the market, or security, to increase or decrease interest rate or currency exposure, or as alternatives to direct investments. Derivatives are used for hedging or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. When the fund uses derivatives as an investment to increase market exposure, or for hedging purposes, gains and losses from derivative instruments may be substantially greater than the derivative’s original cost.

The derivative instruments used by the fund were futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The fund’s period end derivatives, as presented in the Portfolio of Investments and the associated Derivative Contract tables, generally are indicative of the volume of its derivative activity during the period.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the fair value, on a gross basis, of the asset and liability components of derivatives held by the fund at April 30, 2014 as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

        Fair Value (a)  
Risk   Derivative Contracts   Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives  
Interest Rate   Interest Rate Futures     $—      $ (38,098
Foreign Exchange   Forward Foreign Currency Exchange            (48,647
Total       $—      $ (86,745

 

(a) The value of futures contracts outstanding includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the fund’s Portfolio of Investments. Only the current day variation margin for futures contracts is separately reported within the fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the realized gain (loss) on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended April 30, 2014 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
 
Interest Rate      $(637,487      $—   
Foreign Exchange              (191,692
Total      $(637,487      $(191,692

The following table presents, by major type of derivative contract, the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives held by the fund for the six months ended April 30, 2014 as reported in the Statement of Operations:

 

Risk    Futures
Contracts
     Translation
of Assets
and
Liabilities in
Foreign
Currencies
 
Interest Rate      $616,885         $—   
Foreign Exchange              1,767   
Total      $616,885         $1,767   

 

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Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties. On certain, but not all, over-the-counter derivatives, the fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty credit risk whenever possible by entering into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement on a bilateral basis with each of the counterparties with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. Upon an event of default or a termination of the ISDA Master Agreement, the non-defaulting party has the right to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the fund’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the fund under the applicable transactions, if any. The fund’s right to setoff may be restricted or prohibited by the bankruptcy or insolvency laws of the particular jurisdiction to which a specific ISDA counterparty is subject.

Collateral and margin requirements differ by type of derivative. Margin requirements are set by the broker or clearing house for cleared derivatives (i.e., futures contracts, cleared swaps, and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for over-the-counter traded derivatives (i.e., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, uncleared swap agreements, and over-the-counter options). For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. Cash that has been segregated to cover the fund’s collateral or margin obligations under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Restricted cash” or “Deposits with brokers.” Securities pledged as collateral or margin for the same purpose, if any, are noted in the Portfolio of Investments.

Purchased Options – The fund purchased call options for a premium. Purchased call options entitle the holder to buy a specified number of shares or units of a particular security, currency or index at a specified price at a specified date or within a specified period of time. Purchasing call options may hedge against an anticipated increase in the dollar cost of securities or currency to be acquired or increase the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument. Purchasing put options may hedge against an anticipated decline in the value of portfolio securities or currency or decrease the fund’s exposure to an underlying instrument.

The premium paid is initially recorded as an investment in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. That investment is subsequently marked-to-market daily with the difference between the premium paid and the market value of the purchased option being recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Premiums paid for purchased call options which have expired are treated as realized losses on investments in the Statement of Operations. Upon the exercise or closing of a purchased call option, the premium paid is added to the cost of the security or financial instrument purchased.

Whether or not the option is exercised, the fund’s maximum risk of loss from purchasing an option is the amount of premium paid. All option contracts involve

 

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credit risk if the counterparty to the option contract fails to perform. For over-the-counter options, this risk is mitigated in cases where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and for posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement.

Futures Contracts – The fund entered into futures contracts which may be used to hedge against or obtain broad market exposure, interest rate exposure, currency exposure, or to manage duration. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.

Upon entering into a futures contract, the fund is required to deposit with the broker, either in cash or securities, an initial margin in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the notional amount of the contract. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received by the fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract, and are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gain or loss by the fund until the contract is closed or expires at which point the gain or loss on futures contracts is realized.

The fund bears the risk of interest rates, exchange rates or securities prices moving unexpectedly, in which case, the fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the futures contracts and may realize a loss. While futures contracts may present less counterparty risk to the fund since the contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse guarantees payments to the broker, there is still counterparty credit risk due to the insolvency of the broker. The fund’s maximum risk of loss due to counterparty credit risk is equal to the margin posted by the fund to the broker plus any gains or minus any losses on the outstanding futures contracts.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – The fund entered into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a fixed price on a future date. These contracts may be used to hedge the fund’s currency risk or for non-hedging purposes. For hedging purposes, the fund may enter into contracts to deliver or receive foreign currency that the fund will receive from or use in its normal investment activities. The fund may also use contracts to hedge against declines in the value of foreign currency denominated securities due to unfavorable exchange rate movements. For non-hedging purposes, the fund may enter into contracts with the intent of changing the relative exposure of the fund’s portfolio of securities to different currencies to take advantage of anticipated exchange rate changes.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are adjusted by the daily exchange rate of the underlying currency and any unrealized gains or losses are recorded as a receivable or payable for forward foreign currency exchange contracts until the contract settlement date. On contract settlement date, any gain or loss on the contract is recorded as realized gains or losses on foreign currency.

Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from unanticipated movements in the value of the contract and from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Generally, the fund’s maximum risk due to counterparty credit risk is the unrealized gain on the contract due to the use of Continuous Linked Settlement, an industry accepted settlement system. This risk is mitigated in cases

 

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where there is an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and for posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement.

Swap Agreements – During the period the fund entered into swap agreements. Effective June 10, 2013, certain types of swaps (“cleared swaps”) are required to be centrally cleared under provisions of the Dodd-Frank Regulatory Reform Bill. In a cleared swap transaction, the swap agreement is novated to a central counterparty (the “clearinghouse”) immediately following execution of the swap contract with an executing broker. Thereafter, throughout the term of the cleared swap, the fund interfaces indirectly with the clearinghouse through a clearing broker.

A swap agreement is generally an exchange of cash payments, at specified intervals or upon the occurrence of specified events, between the fund and a counterparty. The net cash payments exchanged are recorded as a realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations. The value of the swap agreement, which is adjusted daily and includes any related interest accruals to be paid or received by the fund, is recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as “Swaps, at value” for uncleared swaps and is included in “Due from brokers” or “Due to brokers” for cleared swaps. The daily change in value, including any related interest accruals to be paid or received, is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations. The daily change in valuation of cleared swaps is recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Amounts paid or received at the inception of the swap agreement are reflected as premiums paid or received in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the agreement. A liquidation payment received or made upon early termination is recorded as a realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations.

Risks related to swap agreements include the possible lack of a liquid market, unfavorable market and interest rate movements of the underlying instrument and the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the agreements. To address counterparty risk, swap agreements are limited to only highly-rated counterparties. For uncleared swaps, that risk is further reduced by having an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement. Although not covered by an ISDA Master Agreement, the fund’s counterparty risk due to cleared swaps is mitigated by the clearinghouses’ margining requirements and financial safeguards in the event of a clearing broker default.

The fund entered into credit default swap agreements in order to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its credit risk exposure to defaults of corporate and sovereign issuers or to create exposure to corporate or sovereign issuers to which it is not otherwise exposed. In a credit default swap agreement, the protection buyer can make an upfront payment and will make a stream of payments to the protection seller based on a fixed percentage applied to the agreement notional amount in exchange for the right to receive a specified return upon the occurrence of a defined credit event on the reference obligation (which may

 

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be either a single security or a basket of securities issued by corporate or sovereign issuers) and, with respect to the rare cases where physical settlement applies, the delivery by the buyer to the seller of a defined deliverable obligation. Although agreement-specific, credit events generally consist of a combination of the following: bankruptcy, failure to pay, restructuring, obligation acceleration, obligation default, or repudiation/moratorium, each as defined in the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions as amended by the relevant agreement. Restructuring is generally not applicable when the reference obligation is issued by a North American corporation and obligation acceleration, obligation default, or repudiation/moratorium are generally only applicable when the reference obligation is issued by a sovereign entity or an entity in an emerging country. Upon determination of the final price for the deliverable obligation (or upon delivery of the deliverable obligation in the case of physical settlement), the difference between the value of the deliverable obligation and the swap agreement’s notional amount is recorded as realized gain or loss on swap agreements in the Statement of Operations.

The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, either as the protection seller or as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the agreement. For uncleared swaps, counterparty risk is reduced by having an ISDA Master Agreement between the fund and the counterparty providing for netting as described above and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty under such ISDA Master Agreement. For cleared swaps, the fund’s counterparty risk is mitigated by the clearinghouses’ margining requirements and financial safeguards in the event of a clearing broker default.

Loans and Other Direct Debt Instruments – The fund invests in loans and loan participations or other receivables. These investments may include standby financing commitments, including revolving credit facilities, which obligate the fund to supply additional cash to the borrower on demand. Loan participations involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other financial intermediary.

Indemnifications – Under the fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred.

Investment Transactions and Income – Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. All premium and discount is amortized or accreted for financial statement purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Dividends received in cash are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded when the fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Dividend and interest payments received in additional securities are recorded on the ex-dividend or ex-interest date in an amount equal to the value of the security on such date.

 

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The fund may receive proceeds from litigation settlements. Any proceeds received from litigation involving portfolio holdings are reflected in the Statement of Operations in realized gain/loss if the security has been disposed of by the fund or in unrealized gain/loss if the security is still held by the fund. Any other proceeds from litigation not related to portfolio holdings are reflected as other income in the Statement of Operations.

Fees Paid Indirectly – The fund’s custody fee may be reduced according to an arrangement that measures the value of cash deposited with the custodian by the fund. This amount, for the six months ended April 30, 2014, is shown as a reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Tax Matters and Distributions – The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company, as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute all of its taxable income, including realized capital gains. As a result, no provision for federal income tax is required. The fund’s federal tax returns, when filed, will remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a three year period. Management has analyzed the fund’s tax positions taken on federal and state tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability. Foreign taxes, if any, have been accrued by the fund in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with the applicable foreign tax law. Foreign income taxes may be withheld by certain countries in which the fund invests. Additionally, capital gains realized by the fund on securities issued in or by certain foreign countries may be subject to capital gains tax imposed by those countries.

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or net asset value per share. Temporary differences which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, gain or loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes will reverse at some time in the future. Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions for financial statement and tax purposes.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to amortization and accretion of debt securities, straddle loss deferrals and derivative transactions.

The tax character of distributions made during the current period will be determined at fiscal year end. The tax character of distributions declared to shareholders for the last fiscal year is as follows:

 

     10/31/13  
Ordinary income (including any
short-term capital gains)
     $14,021,721   

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The federal tax cost and the tax basis components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

As of 4/30/14       
Cost of investments      $312,046,458   
Gross appreciation      14,773,717   
Gross depreciation      (3,226,145
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      $11,547,572   
As of 10/31/13       
Undistributed ordinary income      2,632,641   
Capital loss carryforwards      (10,429,548
Other temporary differences      (3,244,545
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)      10,285,126   

The aggregate cost above includes prior fiscal year end tax adjustments, if applicable.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized for fund fiscal years beginning after October 31, 2011 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses (“post-enactment losses”). Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for eight years and treated as short-term losses (“pre-enactment losses”). As a transition rule, the Act requires that all post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of October 31, 2013, the fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized gains. Such pre-enactment losses expire as follows:

 

10/31/16      $(3,691,429
10/31/17      (6,738,119
Total      $(10,429,548

Multiple Classes of Shares of Beneficial Interest – The fund offers multiple classes of shares, which differ in their respective distribution and service fees. The fund’s income and common expenses are allocated to shareholders based on the value of settled shares outstanding of each class. The fund’s realized and unrealized gain (loss) are allocated to shareholders based on the daily net assets of each class. Dividends are declared separately for each class. Differences in per share dividend rates are generally due to differences in separate class expenses. Class B shares will convert to Class A

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

shares approximately eight years after purchase. The fund’s distributions declared to shareholders as reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets are presented by class as follows:

 

     From net investment
income
 
     Six months
ended
4/30/14
     Year
ended
10/31/13
 
Class A      $4,899,628         $10,003,064   
Class B      686,794         1,432,711   
Class C      924,311         1,979,024   
Class I      280,467         606,922   
Total      $6,791,200         $14,021,721   

(3) Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Adviser – The fund has an investment advisory agreement with MFS to provide overall investment management and related administrative services and facilities to the fund. The management fee is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.65% of the fund’s average daily net assets. The investment adviser has agreed in writing to reduce its management fee to 0.60% of average daily net assets. This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until February 28, 2015. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, this management fee reduction amounted to $79,124, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. MFS has also agreed in writing to reduce its management fee by a specified amount if certain MFS mutual fund assets exceed thresholds agreed to by MFS and the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, this management fee reduction amounted to $4,669, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. The management fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2014, was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.60% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

The investment adviser has agreed in writing to pay a portion of the fund’s total annual operating expenses, exclusive of interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and transaction costs and investment-related expenses (such as fees and expenses associated with investments in investment companies and other similar investment vehicles), such that total annual fund operating expenses do not exceed the following rates annually of each class’s average daily net assets:

 

Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I  
  1.05%        1.80     1.80     0.80

This written agreement will continue until modified by the fund’s Board of Trustees, but such agreement will continue at least until February 28, 2015. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, this reduction amounted to $52,602 and is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Distributor – MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (MFD), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, as distributor, received $52,154 for the six months ended April 30, 2014, as its portion of the initial sales charge on sales of Class A shares of the fund.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

The Board of Trustees has adopted a distribution plan for certain share classes pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The fund’s distribution plan provides that the fund will pay MFD for services provided by MFD and financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution and servicing of certain share classes. One component of the plan is a distribution fee paid to MFD and another component of the plan is a service fee paid to MFD. MFD may subsequently pay all, or a portion, of the distribution and/or service fees to financial intermediaries.

Distribution Plan Fee Table:

 

     Distribution
Fee Rate (d)
     Service
Fee Rate (d)
     Total
Distribution
Plan (d)
     Annual
Effective
Rate (e)
     Distribution
and Service
Fee
 
Class A              0.25%         0.25%         0.25%         $272,969   
Class B      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         183,898   
Class C      0.75%         0.25%         1.00%         1.00%         247,503   
Total Distribution and Service Fees            $704,370   

 

(d) In accordance with the distribution plan for certain classes, the fund pays distribution and/or service fees equal to these annual percentage rates of each class’s average daily net assets. The distribution and service fee rates disclosed by class represent the current rates in effect at the end of the reporting period. Any rate changes, if applicable, are detailed below.
(e) The annual effective rates represent actual fees incurred under the distribution plan for the six months ended April 30, 2014 based on each class’s average daily net assets. MFD has voluntarily agreed to rebate a portion of each class’s 0.25% service fee attributable to accounts for which MFD retains the 0.25% service fee except for accounts attributable to MFS or its affiliates’ seed money. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, this rebate amounted to $5,270, $29, and $29 for Class A, Class B, and Class C, respectively, and is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations.

Certain Class A shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) in the event of a shareholder redemption within 18 months of purchase for shares purchased on or after August 1, 2012, and within 24 months of purchase for shares purchased prior to August 1, 2012. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within 12 months of purchase. Class B shares are subject to a CDSC in the event of a shareholder redemption within six years of purchase. All contingent deferred sales charges are paid to MFD and during the six months ended April 30, 2014, were as follows:

 

     Amount  
Class A      $3,369   
Class B      23,711   
Class C      2,950   

Shareholder Servicing Agent – MFS Service Center, Inc. (MFSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS, receives a fee from the fund for its services as shareholder servicing agent calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the fund as determined periodically under the supervision of the fund’s Board of Trustees. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, the fee was $64,748, which equated to 0.0409% annually of the fund’s average daily net assets. MFSC also receives payment from the fund for out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

which may be paid to affiliated and unaffiliated service providers. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, these out-of-pocket expenses, sub-accounting and other shareholder servicing costs amounted to $144,165.

Administrator – MFS provides certain financial, legal, shareholder communications, compliance, and other administrative services to the fund. Under an administrative services agreement, the fund partially reimburses MFS the costs incurred to provide these services. The fund is charged an annual fixed amount of $17,500 plus a fee based on average daily net assets. The administrative services fee incurred for the six months ended April 30, 2014 was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.0152% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustees’ and Officers’ Compensation – The fund pays compensation to independent Trustees in the form of a retainer, attendance fees, and additional compensation to Board and Committee chairpersons. The fund does not pay compensation directly to Trustees or officers of the fund who are also officers of the investment adviser, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the fund from MFS. Certain officers and Trustees of the fund are officers or directors of MFS, MFD, and MFSC.

Prior to December 31, 2001, the fund had an unfunded defined benefit plan (“DB plan”) for independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2001, the Board took action to terminate the DB plan with respect to then-current and any future independent Trustees, such that the DB plan covers only certain of those former independent Trustees who retired on or before December 31, 2001. Effective January 1, 2002, accrued benefits under the DB plan for then-current independent Trustees who continued were credited to an unfunded retirement deferral plan (the “Retirement Deferral plan”), which was established for and exists solely with respect to these credited amounts, and is not available for other deferrals by these or other independent Trustees. Although the Retirement Deferral plan is unfunded, amounts deferred under the plan are periodically adjusted for investment experience as if they had been invested in shares of the fund. The DB plan resulted in a pension expense of $131 and the Retirement Deferral plan resulted in an expense of $261. Both amounts are included in independent Trustees’ compensation for the six months ended April 30, 2014. The liability for deferred retirement benefits payable to certain independent Trustees under both plans amounted to $9,688 at April 30, 2014, and is included in “Payable for independent Trustees’ compensation” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Other – This fund and certain other funds managed by MFS (the funds) have entered into services agreements (the Agreements) which provide for payment of fees by the funds to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC in return for the provision of services of an Independent Chief Compliance Officer (ICCO) and Assistant ICCO, respectively, for the funds. The ICCO and Assistant ICCO are officers of the funds and the sole members of Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC, respectively. The funds can terminate the Agreements with Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC at any time under the terms of the Agreements. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, the aggregate fees paid by the fund to Tarantino LLC and Griffin Compliance LLC were $1,005 and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations. MFS has agreed to reimburse the fund for a portion of the payments made by the fund

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

in the amount of $229, which is included in the reduction of total expenses in the Statement of Operations. Additionally, MFS has agreed to bear all expenses associated with office space, other administrative support, and supplies provided to the ICCO and Assistant ICCO.

The fund invests in the MFS Institutional Money Market Portfolio which is managed by MFS and seeks current income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. This money market fund does not pay a management fee to MFS.

The fund invests in the High Yield Pooled Portfolio. The High Yield Pooled Portfolio is a mutual fund advised by MFS that does not pay management fees to MFS but does incur investment and operating costs. The High Yield Pooled Portfolio is designed to be used by MFS funds to invest in a particular security type rather than invest in the security type directly. The fund invests in the High Yield Pooled Portfolio to gain exposure to high income debt instruments, rather than investing in high income debt instruments directly.

At close of business on March 22, 2013, the fund and certain other MFS funds transferred high income debt instruments, accrued interest and cash to the High Yield Pooled Portfolio, a series of MFS Series Trust III, in exchange for shares of the High Yield Pooled Portfolio. The purpose of the transaction was to pool the portion of the assets of the fund and certain other MFS funds invested in high income debt instruments in the High Yield Pooled Portfolio. The transfer was accomplished by a tax-free exchange by the fund of investments valued at approximately $107,444,790 with a cost basis of approximately $101,892,713 accrued interest of approximately $2,053,165 and cash of approximately $529,112 for approximately 11,002,707 shares of the High Yield Pooled Portfolio (valued at approximately $110,027,067). For financial reporting purposes, investments transferred and shares received by the fund were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments delivered to the High Yield Pooled Portfolio was carried forward to the shares received. Income earned on this investment is included in “Dividends from underlying affiliated funds” in the Statement of Operations. The High Yield Pooled Portfolio does not pay a management fee, distribution and/or service fee, or sales charge.

(4) Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, were as follows:

 

     Purchases      Sales  
U.S. Government securities      $2,922,872         $1,727,941   
Investments (non-U.S. Government securities)      $29,056,830         $27,085,751   

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

(5) Shares of Beneficial Interest

The fund’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest. Transactions in fund shares were as follows:

 

     Six months ended
4/30/14
     Year ended
10/31/13
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Shares sold            

Class A

     3,560,801         $24,000,956         7,850,264         $53,441,803   

Class B

     476,772         3,191,955         1,244,269         8,400,049   

Class C

     889,385         5,922,192         1,669,429         11,218,637   

Class I

     523,258         3,525,172         1,421,745         9,659,042   
     5,450,216         $36,640,275         12,185,707         $82,719,531   
Shares issued to shareholders in
reinvestment of distributions
            

Class A

     665,816         $4,491,411         1,279,254         $8,683,893   

Class B

     88,170         590,438         155,169         1,045,000   

Class C

     116,668         778,770         235,912         1,584,323   

Class I

     35,692         240,839         75,265         510,092   
     906,346         $6,101,458         1,745,600         $11,823,308   
Shares reacquired            

Class A

     (3,469,243      $(23,376,925      (8,814,020      $(59,734,159

Class B

     (714,419      (4,780,569      (1,486,947      (10,012,123

Class C

     (998,077      (6,653,496      (2,416,054      (16,164,686

Class I

     (361,050      (2,429,173      (1,417,507      (9,521,248
     (5,542,789      $(37,240,163      (14,134,528      $(95,432,216
Net change            

Class A

     757,374         $5,115,442         315,498         $2,391,537   

Class B

     (149,477      (998,176      (87,509      (567,074

Class C

     7,976         47,466         (510,713      (3,361,726

Class I

     197,900         1,336,838         79,503         647,886   
     813,773         $5,501,570         (203,221      $(889,377

(6) Line of Credit

The fund and certain other funds managed by MFS participate in a $1.1 billion unsecured committed line of credit, subject to a $1 billion sublimit, provided by a syndication of banks under a credit agreement. Borrowings may be made for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, generally at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Reserve funds rate or one month LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread. A commitment fee, based on the average daily, unused portion of the committed line of credit, is allocated among the participating funds at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the fund and other funds managed by MFS have established unsecured uncommitted borrowing arrangements with certain banks for temporary financing needs. Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve funds rate plus an

 

41


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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) – continued

 

agreed upon spread. For the six months ended April 30, 2014, the fund’s commitment fee and interest expense were $698 and $0, respectively, and are included in “Miscellaneous” expense in the Statement of Operations.

(7) Transactions in Underlying Affiliated Funds-Affiliated Issuers

An affiliated issuer may be considered one in which the fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common control. For the purposes of this report, the fund assumes the following to be affiliated issuers:

 

Underlying Affiliated Funds   Beginning
Shares/Par
Amount
    Acquisitions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Dispositions
Shares/Par
Amount
    Ending
Shares/Par
Amount
 
MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio     10,984,557        802,444        (759,884     11,027,117   
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
    4,120,342        29,094,468        (27,244,327     5,970,483   
Underlying Affiliated Funds   Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Capital Gain
Distributions
    Dividend
Income
    Ending
Value
 
MFS High Yield Pooled Portfolio     $819,441        $784,528        $3,722,395        $109,940,353   
MFS Institutional Money
Market Portfolio
                  1,636        5,970,483   
Total     $819,441        $784,528        $3,724,031        $115,910,836   

 

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Table of Contents

BOARD REVIEW OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent review and renewal of the fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement with MFS is available by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of the MFS Web site (mfs.com).

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND INFORMATION

MFS votes proxies on behalf of the fund pursuant to proxy voting policies and procedures that are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-2606, by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2013 is available without charge by visiting the Proxy Voting section of mfs.com or by visiting the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO DISCLOSURE

The fund will file a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A shareholder can obtain the quarterly portfolio holdings report at mfs.com. The fund’s Form N-Q is also available on the EDGAR database on the Commission’s Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the:

Public Reference Room

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE, Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of the fund’s Form N-Q also may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section at the above address.

FURTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, MFS may post important information about the fund or the MFS funds on the MFS web site (mfs.com). This information is available by visiting the “Commentary & Announcements” and “Market Outlooks” sections of mfs.com or by clicking on the fund’s name under “Mutual Funds” in the “Products” section of mfs.com.

PROVISION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND SUMMARY PROSPECTUSES

The fund produces financial reports every six months and updates its summary prospectus and prospectus annually. To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, only one copy of the fund’s annual and semiannual report and summary prospectus may be mailed to shareholders having the same last name and residential address on the fund’s records. However, any shareholder may contact MFSC (please see back cover for address and telephone number) to request that copies of these reports and summary prospectuses be sent personally to that shareholder.

 

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Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Save paper with eDelivery.

 

LOGO

MFS® will send you prospectuses,

reports, and proxies directly via e-mail so you will get information faster with less mailbox clutter.

To sign up:

1. Go to mfs.com.

2. Log in via MFS® Access.

3. Select eDelivery.

If you own your MFS fund shares through a financial institution or a retirement plan, MFS® TALK, MFS® Access, or eDelivery may not be available to you.

 

CONTACT

WEB SITE

mfs.com

MFS TALK

1-800-637-8255

24 hours a day

ACCOUNT SERVICE AND LITERATURE

Shareholders

1-800-225-2606

Financial advisors

1-800-343-2829

Retirement plan services

1-800-637-1255

MAILING ADDRESS

MFS Service Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 55824

Boston, MA 02205-5824

OVERNIGHT MAIL

MFS Service Center, Inc.

c/o Boston Financial Data Services

30 Dan Road

Canton, MA 02021-2809

 


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ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

During the period covered by this report, the Registrant has not amended any provision in its Code of Ethics (the “Code”) that relates to an element of the Code’s definitions enumerated in paragraph (b) of Item 2 of this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the Registrant did not grant a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from any provision of the Code.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS

A schedule of investments for each series of the Registrant is included as part of the report to shareholders of such series under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable to the Registrant.


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ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may send recommendations to the Board for nominees to the Registrant’s Board since the Registrant last provided disclosure as to such procedures in response to the requirements of Item 407 (c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K or this Item.

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report on Form N-CSR, the registrant’s principal financial officer and principal executive officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by the report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

 

(a) File the exhibits listed below as part of this form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

 

  (1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit.

 

  (2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2): Attached hereto.

 

(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)), Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference: Attached hereto.


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Notice

A copy of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as amended, of the Registrant is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the respective constituent series of the Registrant.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant) MFS SERIES TRUST VIII

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JOHN M. CORCORAN
  John M. Corcoran, President

Date: June 17, 2014

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)*    JOHN M. CORCORAN
 

John M. Corcoran, President

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: June 17, 2014

 

By (Signature and Title)*    DAVID L. DILORENZO
  David L. DiLorenzo, Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer)

Date: June 17, 2014

 

* Print name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.